Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

Warden Kimberly A. Seibel
Chuckwalla Valley State Prison
PO Box 2289
Blythe, CA 92225

3 October 2016

RE: Disapproval of Publication

Ms. Seibel,

A week ago I had written to appeal the censorship of a publication, Under Lock & Key #51. Today I am writing to inquire about other mail that is going missing. From the reports we are receiving, no one at Chuckwalla Valley has received any mail from MIM Distributors in at least a month and a half.

Specifically, Mr. XXXXXX XXXXXX (XXXXXX) has reported the last letter he received from MIM was from August 22. The list of mail sent to Mr. XXXXXX since then is:

8/26/2016 - #10 envelope
9/24/2016 - large manila envelope
10/3/2016 - #10 envelope

Mr. XXXXXX has filed an Inmate 22 form, and in his interview was told by A. Salas that the mailroom has not received any mail from MIM Distributors.

I’m writing to find out what is happening to the mail sent by MIM Distributors to prisoners held at Chuckwalla Valley? And if it is being censored why is there no notification from your department of this censorship?


Thank you for your time and attention to this matter,

Warden Kimberly A. Seibel
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
PO Box 2289
Blythe, CA 92225

26 November 2016

RE: Failure to Deliver Mail at Chuckawalla Valley SP

Ms. Seibel,

I received your letter from 31 October 2016, in which you state that “All of Mr. AAAAA’s mail that has arrived at the Chuckawalla Valley State Prison Mailroom, with the exception of [SF Bayview Newspaper Vol 41 Number 9] has been routed to him in a timely manner.” Yet I have personally sent mail to Mr. AAAAA as outlined in my previous letter that he reports not receiving. I also have signed statements from Mr. AAAAA, Mr. BBBBB and Mr. CCCCC stating that they have not received Under Lock & Key #52, mailed out on 10 October 2016. Neither MIM Distributors, nor the above mentioned subscribers have received notification of censorship of any of these pieces of mail.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, you continue to assert that the mailroom is delivering our mail to subscribers being held prisoner at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison. Meanwhile, Mr. AAAAA is having his 602 appeals related to these incidents rejected for bogus reasons. Therefore, I am forwarding documentation regarding these incidents to the addresses below in hopes of getting a satisfactory resolution to these barriers to our ability to speak, communicate and associate freely without state censorship.

I will also be contacting individuals held at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison with this information and request that you ensure that mailroom staff deliver these letters to their intended recipients.


Sincerely,
XXXXX

cc: affected parties
Board of State and Community Corrections
Prison Law Office
Office of Internal Affairs, CDCR