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Resist Restrictions on Indigent Correspondence
initiated in November 2013updated on May 02, 2016
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 Encourage family/friends/freeworld comrades to contact the officials below and demand that this new policy be repealed: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
936-437-6791TDCJ Executive Director, PO Box 99, Huntsville, TX 77342-0099
exec.director@tdcj.state.tx.us
936-437-2101Senator John Whitmire, PO Box 12068, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711
512-463-0115Governor Rick Perry, PO Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711-2428
512-463-2000Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, PO Box 13084, Austin, TX 78711-3084
512-475-3250
Fax: 512-305-9398Attorney General Greg Abbott, PO Box 12548, Austin, TX 78711-2548
512-463-2100Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, PO Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711-2068
512-463-0001Speaker 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 |