The following excerpt is from Matthews v. Murphy, 956 F.2d 275 (9th Cir. 1991):
Matthews alleges in count four that he was deprived of a towel, toothbrush, toothpowder, comb, soap, and other personal hygiene items for approximately 34 days following the riot. He claims this practice constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. While it has been held that "the eighth amendment forbids deprivation of the basic elements of hygiene," Matthews' allegations, even if true, do not rise to the level of an Eighth Amendment violation. Daigre v. Maggio, 719 F.2d 1310, 1312 (5th Cir.1983)
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.