Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

Director of Rehabilitative Programs and Services
North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Prisons
MSC 4221
Raleigh, NC 27699-4221

1 May 2017

RE: censorship of Under Lock & Key No. 55

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is in response to a Letter to Publisher from Doug Pardue, notifying MIM Distributors of the disapproval of Under Lock & Key No. 55, March/April 2017. The reason given for the censorship was that “”Regarding Daily Body Searches” promotes insurrection” on page 13.

The next time Mr. Pardue is downtown, perhaps he can visit the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial garden and read the inscription on the statue there. It seems contradictory that the same state that praises “massive disobedience” as serving the interests of “liberty and justice for all”, finds protest in the form of prisoners remaining in their cells to somehow be a threat to institutional security (the criteria legally required for censorship of mail sent to prisoners).

I hope that upon review of this decision that you will agree that this decision contradicts the values (and laws) of this country and that the newsletter in question will be delivered to the subscribers held by NCDPS.

Thank you for your time and attention in this matter,

It is a blatant falsehood that Issue #55 of Under Lock and Key advocates Pennsylvania prisoneres to participate in a work stoppage project. The censorship or publication violates publisher's 1st amendment right to communicate with grievant and grievant's right of freedom of speech and association. see exhibit #1

I am in receipt of your greivance and have consulted with appropriate staff while reviewing the publication. The publication you reference, Under Lock and Key (march/April 2017), was denied due to an article referencing issues detrimental to the security of this facility. I have personally reviewed pages 20, 21 and 24 of the publication and can state that the article specifically poses a risk to facility security and encourages unauthorized group activity.

Your continued assertion that decisions by the IPRC are racially motivated hold no merit and are completely unfounded. As always, should you disagree with a decision rendered by IPRC and this writer, you h ave a final appeal level to Central Office.

Based on what is noted above, it is my decision to uphold the review committee's decision. I find that this grievance has no merit and is therefore denied.

Signed: Facility Manager

[this letter was sent to Deputy Superintendent Stephen Kennedy, 2405 Main St, S. Walpole, MA 02071]

Re: Contraband #3 4-11-17 MIM Distributor's (news)

Deputy Kennedy,

Once again your subordinate in the mail room has decided once again he doesn't like news article and this time he said (unauthorized material) in February he state an article (STG related) the last one he stated controversial statement.

I will repeat what I said the last time your subordinate is continuing to contraband mail that is not STG related and is being sent by minority organizations of Black/Latino/Asian backgrounds. I have never had this problem until this person was placed in the mail room. His actions and what he claims why he is doing it is nothing but fascism and racism against minority oriented newspapers/letters.

Thus forth violating my First Amendment right in which you are aware of. And you should know even in prison that right still exist. I also made a call or two and was told by two people mail sent to me was sent to (me) looked purposely (ripped). This is as I stated earlier fascism and you are allowing it to continue and I know I am not the only person in Walpole complaining about this person dealing with prisoner's mail his fascist racial opinions he should keep to hisself and just because the information I receive is Black oriented doesn't mean it's STG related. Your c/o has racial bias issues.

And what sense does it make when that same news article he claims is an article that can cause prison issues is just another fascism tactic to stop me from learning more than what's on the news. And you are condoning it because as I stated I am not on mail monitoring never had nor will so you can't say it's just policy to read all my mail or other people this is not a federal institution. He's going out of his way to obstruct/hinder my first amendment right of freedom of speech.

Radio/TV/internet: Talk about the same issues in the stuff he's contraband but the newspaper doesn't leave anything out. You will allow publications/newspapers (white) were trump talks about deportation of all illegals and of (racist cops) killing my bros/sisters and have books in your library about slavery and hanging. But won't allow a newspaper not STG related just because the organization is minority. Once again this is the 3rd time he's did it anybody with common sense can see clearly what it is.