Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

Steven F. Singer, Warden
Florida State Prison
7819 NW 228th Street
Raiford, FL 32026-1000

30 June 2011

Dear Warden Singer,

Recently a publication titled Under Lock & Key issue 19 (March/April 2011) was denied to prisoners held at Florida State Prison (FSP). The publication was impounded because of the alleged reason that "page 1 and 3 is inflammatory and presents a threat to security, good order, or discipline of the correctional system or the safety of any person." This decision to impound was made by mailroom employee D. Jackson. I am also aware that multiple prisoners in FSP have appealed this censorship.

I have included a copy of the pages in question for your reference. Interestingly, the two pages mentioned on the Notice of Impoundment are focused on the United Front for Peace in Prisons, which is clearly not a threat to the safety of any person, and is in fact an attempt to quell the violence that runs rampant all across the prison system. This attempt is not without basis; unity around common principles has been proven historically to eliminate violence among differing groups, even in prisons. How can information on making peace within prisons present a threat to the security, good order, or discipline of the correctional system? Without doubt, if there were less prisoner-on-prisoner violence, it would relieve much of the occupational hazard for Correctional Officers and actually increase the security and good order of the correctional system, and personal self-discipline of the prisoners.

The content on pages 1 and 3 not related to the United Front for Peace in Prisons contains part of a report of the uprisings in the Middle East and north Africa. This information is readily available in media sources accessible by prisoners, making it moot as a reason for censorship.

Based on the information provided above, and on the pages of Under Lock & Key issue 19 provided, we would like to request that the publication be allowed to prisoners held at Florida State Prison. If not, please provide us with a detailed explanation of the censorship. We appreciate your assistance in this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

MIM Distributors

CC: Affected parties

Steven F. Singer, Warden
Florida State Prison
7819 NW 228th Street
Raiford, FL 32026-1000

30 June 2011

Dear Warden Singer,

Recently a publication titled Under Lock & Key issue 19 (March/April 2011) was denied to prisoners held at Florida State Prison (FSP). The publication was impounded because of the alleged reason that "page 1 and 3 is inflammatory and presents a threat to security, good order, or discipline of the correctional system or the safety of any person." This decision to impound was made by mailroom employee D. Jackson. I am also aware that multiple prisoners in FSP have appealed this censorship.

I have included a copy of the pages in question for your reference. Interestingly, the two pages mentioned on the Notice of Impoundment are focused on the United Front for Peace in Prisons, which is clearly not a threat to the safety of any person, and is in fact an attempt to quell the violence that runs rampant all across the prison system. This attempt is not without basis; unity around common principles has been proven historically to eliminate violence among differing groups, even in prisons. How can information on making peace within prisons present a threat to the security, good order, or discipline of the correctional system? Without doubt, if there were less prisoner-on-prisoner violence, it would relieve much of the occupational hazard for Correctional Officers and actually increase the security and good order of the correctional system, and personal self-discipline of the prisoners.

The content on pages 1 and 3 not related to the United Front for Peace in Prisons contains part of a report of the uprisings in the Middle East and north Africa. This information is readily available in media sources accessible by prisoners, making it moot as a reason for censorship.

Based on the information provided above, and on the pages of Under Lock & Key issue 19 provided, we would like to request that the publication be allowed to prisoners held at Florida State Prison. If not, please provide us with a detailed explanation of the censorship. We appreciate your assistance in this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

MIM Distributors

CC: Affected parties

Literature Review Committee
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500

24 April 2010

Dear Sir/Madam,

On 13 April 2010, Florida State Prison Mail Room Personnel K. Ferguson rejected a letter from MIM Distributors P.O. Box 40799, San Francisco, CA 94140 to Mr. XXX. This letter is to appeal the decision to deny this letter by K. Ferguson. I have attached a copy of the letter in question for your reference. The reason K. Ferguson for this censorship was that the "mail establishes or conducts business."

On the FDC website there is a page titled "Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Writing to an Inmate." On this page there is one rule about "business."
J. Incoming mail shall be disapproved for mailing or delivery to an inmate if any part of it:
xii. It contains an advertisement promoting any of the following where the advertisement is the focus of, rather than being incidental to, the publication or the advertising is prominent or prevalent throughout the publication.
* Three-way calling services;
* Pen-pal services;
* The purchase of products or services with postage stamps; or
* Conducting a business or profession while incarcerated

As you can see from the content of the letter, there is no advertisement for conducting business or developing a profession for prisoners. On the contrary, the main focus of the letter is an invitation to join a study group.

We look forward to your timely response concerning the overturn of this incorrect denial.

Sincerely,

MIM Distributors

CC: Affected parties