Frederal courts reject challenges to prison pen-pal limits

Another federal court approved restrictions on prison pen-pals by ruling that the Missouri Department of Corrections could prevent inmates from soliciting pen pals online. The court said the policy protected security and rehabilitation and still allowed inmates other avenues to exercise their  First Amendment rights. From the First Amendment Center, January 8, 2012, by David [...]

Federal judge rules prison officials not show dangers of inmate sending manuscript

A federal district judge ruled that prison authorities at Pelican Bay State Prison had violated the First Amendment rights of an inmate who wanted to mail a manuscript with sections of his autobiography. The authorities claimed that the manuscript referred to ongoing gang activity and could provoke violence or promote gang activity. The judge pointed [...]

Distribution of magazine in California prisons splits judges

The First Amendment Center says a federal appeals court decision was correct that cited the First Amendment in ruling that a California publisher should be able to distribute his magazine, Crime, Justice & America, in California jails. The appeals court ruled that the inmates had a legitimate First Amendment stake in receiving ideas and information. [...]

Free speech: Supreme Court reaffirms ban on death row interviews

The Supreme Court will not hear the case of a death row inmate who claimed his First Amendment rights were violated by a federal policy that banned interviews with death row inmates. -db The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press March 8, 2010 By Curry Andrews The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said it [...]