Dear Mailroom Lieutenant:
We apologize for placing an issue of this small magnitude on your desk for redress, but our attempts at rectifying the problem of our being denied books have met with disappointment. The mailroom, R&R and even Deputy Director D.L. Runnels have answered our inquiries with ambiguity. If answered at all. Books are very important to us in ASU [Administrative Segregation Unit] and to the realization of our rehabilitation: it's unconscionable, what with all we know about life-transforming effects books and education have on people, that the above named offices and persons would permit with apparent indifference our deprivation of them (books).
In effort to reiterate the procedures and regulations set forth in the CCR 15 Sections 3138 (F) (1) and 3343 (i): DOM ART 43 Sections 54030.17.1 and 54030.17.7, and applicable law, memorandum titled "The process of standard mail and receipt of books," dated February 13, 2006, by D.L. Runnels, Deputy Directory, which was circulated through the mailroom and R&R, was generated to inform interested Lieutenants that book packages are not considered to be only special purchase; the mailroom is to process, like standard mail, incoming books from any book vendor that does mail order business (if ordered by third party); and lastly, ASU placed inmates are allowed to receive and possess personal books, tough the number of books may be limited. Neither the mailroom nor R&R are processing for ASU inmates incoming book orders, but instead are summarily returning to sender arriving book orders, and without explanation or the generating of an 1819 Denied Property Notice. We learn of the returns from our families, whom themselves were notified by the book vendor. Without a CDC 1819 Denied Property Notice, no grounds for 602 appeal can be proffered (See Director's Level Screen out of book appeal, Log #LAC-S-05-02893).
The egregious refusal of both the mailroom and R&R to properly process and deliver incoming third party ordered books not only lends to the further frustration of an already tenuous and volatile relationship between ASU inmates and staff, because it is believed the proscription on personal books for ASU inmates is punitive only and serves no legit penological interest, but is in direct violation of the rules.
We respectfully request that since we are generally retained in ASU for extraordinarily long periods of time, you would intervene and rescind the unofficial policy at Lancaster of denying ASU placement inmates to receive book orders and instruct both the mailroom and responsible parties to adhere to the rules and regulations regarding the receipt of books as reiterated in the aforementioned memorandum.
- A California prisoner, October 2006