Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

On the 17th of February 2017, after experiencing censorship by the officials here at Florida State Prison. A publication in which I were to receive was rejected (Under Lock & Key January/February 2017, no54) for reasons as stated. "Page 11: Encourages riot" and "page 13: describes riot." (A copy of DC5-101 is attached).

If the page stated above were to be "thoroughly" and "properly" assessed it woudl reveal that the decision put forth to reject mentioned publication was on exaggerated response to any true concern for security matters. And in addition, in the absence of penological concern. It will further illuminate that the true intent of stated articles were taken out of context. The rejection of the publication (as well as twenty six of the last twenty eight) in full were applied by officials own personal prejudices and opinions as standards for prisoner mail censorship and to suppress unwelcome criticism. It was more so determined by a preassumption of the critical nature of the newsletter as a whole that prompted and has been prompting these decisions this is an appeal of the rejected publication, and asking that a further assement is put into effect to verify and justify the trure threat of articles on pg11 and 13.

Your administrative appeal has been reviewed and evaluated. You appeal the impoundment of the following publication: Under Lock & Key, No. 54. January/February 2017.

On March 08, 2017 the Literature Review Committee reviewed the subject matter content in question submitted by the institution. It was determined to contain subject matter that is inadmissible per Rule 33-501.401(3)(g)(m).

The departmnt may prohibit admission of materials or publications if they are determined to be detrimental to the safety, security, order or rehabilitative interests of a facility or would create a risk of disorder at that facility. Chapter 33-501.401, requires that publications be reviewed and a determination made by one institution. The determination made by that institution affects all other institutions; however, as a result of an individual institution's determination, all impounded publications are reviewed and either approved or rejected by the department's Literature Review Committee as required by rule. Therefore, the final determination is made by the department's Literature Review Committee and not by an individual institution or warden.

Based on the above information your administrative appeal is denied.

S. Milliken

(c) It contains material that a reasonable person would construe as written solely for the purpose of communicating information designed to achieve the breakdown of prisons through offender disruption such as strikes, riots or security threat group activity.

Remarks: Page 13 contain information that could cause a prison strike and prison disruption

Does offender wish to appeal the denial? yes