Resist Restrictions on Indigent Correspondence

Resist Restrictions on Indigent Correspondence

During their August 2013 Board Meeting, the Texa$ Board of Criminal (in)Justice approved a revision to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Correspondence Rules. The rules came into effect with no warning on October 1, 2013.

This new revision restricts indigent prisoners to 5 one-ounce domestic letters per month. It also removed all references to the first 60 days a prisoner is indigent – essentially allowing the TDCJ to collect “indigent debt” indefinitely. The previous policy allowed 5 letters per week and only allowed TDCJ to recoup amounts expended during the first 60 days a prisoner is indigent. This revised policy clearly violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments, especially in light of Guajardo v Estelle, 432 F.Supp 1373.

We must proactively resist this policy. Attached is an example grievance that can be filed by TDCJ prisoners. I encourage you to edit, expand, personalize, or revise it. Proactively seek out other prisoners who have the courage to resist this revision. Encourage family/friends/freeworld comrades to contact the officials below and demand that this new policy be repealed:

TDCJ Ombudsman, PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342-0099
ombudsman@tdcj.state.tx.us
936-437-6791

TDCJ Executive Director, PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342-0099
exec.director@tdcj.state.tx.us
936-437-2101

Senator John Whitmire, PO Box 12068, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711
512-463-0115

Governor Rick Perry, PO Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711-2428
512-463-2000

Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, PO Box 13084, Austin, TX 78711-3084
512-475-3250
Fax: 512-305-9398

Attorney General Greg Abbott, PO Box 12548, Austin, TX 78711-2548
512-463-2100

Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, PO Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711-2068
512-463-0001

Speaker of the House Joe Straus, PO Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910
512-463-1000

Another new policy that came out of the August Board Meeting which needs our proactive resistance prohibits prisoners from receiving stationary through the mail, starting 1 March 2014. You will only be allowed to purchase stationary through the commissary. TDCJ is attempting to create a monopoly. Once this happens, they will be able to charge whatever prices they wish for their stationary. Start organizing resistance to this policy NOW!

Fight the System!

Updates/Reports from Inside

• Step 1 and Step 2 Grievances on Indigent Mail Campaign (May 2016)
• Making Moves on Indigent Mail Campaign (March 2016)
• Cotulla Unit Warden Responds to Indigent Mail Step 1 Grievance (December 2015)
• Indigent Mail Restrictions Silences Prisoners (September 2015)
• Texas Indigent Mail Battle Victories and Set Backs (May 2014)
• More Restrictions on Correspondence in Texas (April 2014)
• Texas Restrictions on Indigent Correspondence Campaign Update (March 2014)
• Texas Responds to Campaign to End Restrictions on Indigent Correspondence (February 2014)
• Politically Active Prisoners in Texas Receive Unexpected Support From Free World Comrades (February 2014)
• Pigs in Texas Make Power Move to Silence Revolutionary Prisoner Voices (December 2013)
• Announcing Campaign to Resist Restrictions on Indigent Correspondence (November 2013)

Related Censorship

Click for more	STATE	DATE	TYPE	TITLE	REASON GIVEN	FACILITY	DIRECT LINK
	[TX]	10/01/2014	letter	indigent grievance campaign	unknown - no notification given	Ellis Unit