Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

Please be advised that the following publication has been denied to all inmates housed in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections:

Under Lock & Key, #50, May/June 2016

The publication was denied for the following reasons:

Information on pages 17-18 incites inmates to demonstrate, which could cause a threat to inmates, staff or facility security.

If you would like to appeal this decision, you have 15 working days to set forth the reasons why the decision to deny the publicaiton was erroneous. Responses must be sent to:

Office of Policy, Grants and Legislative Affairs
PA Department of Corrections
1920 Technology Parkway
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050


To review PADOC publication policies, please see www.cor.pa.gov

I disagree with the impoundment of my publication Under Lock and Key issue March/April 2016 #49 that was impounded on May 20 2016.

The Super Bowl Halftime Report (page 10-11) isn't inflammatory becasue the incident(s) that took place at the super bowl has been publicized by the NPR news stateion and many other radio outlets which haven't canceled an issue yet.

Community education (page 17) isn't a threat.

Page 17 doesn't have gang signs and even if it does, they are not pictured in a disrespectful manner that would cause anger.

On May 24, 2016 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)(m).

The department 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.

All publications that have suspected gang related behavior are forwarded to the Security Threat Group unit for review an input to the Literature Review Committee.

It is not within the inmate's scope of responsibility to determine what is a violation of Ch. 33-501.401, determine a credible threat to the security of a compound/facility or decide of an impoundment/rejection is frivolous.

Based on the above information your administrative appeal is denied.

S. Milliken

Recently I got some material from the Strugglen Artists Association which I paid to have sent back. Please resend but note don't send more than 5 items at a time. Y'all sent 9 items that time and recently I found our I can only get 5 items at a time according to the mailroom supervisor. Did you get the Strugglen Artists Association material you all sent to me back? (as of 6/27/16, no, MIM Dist did not get the materials back)

Response: "unfortunately I do not know about march/april issue. I do know that all the above issues you mentioned have been rejected by LRC. I will contact property to confiscated the rejections mentioned above."

Your request for administrative review has been received in non-compliance with Chapter 33-501.401 (13)(a)(2). A copy of the Notice of Rejection or Impoundment of Publications was not attached. Therefore, your grievance is being returned without action."

ULK was rejected without a copy of notice of rejection or impoundment of publication being given to prisoner. Requests copy of this notice.

An investigation reveals the following:

Ms. Page in the mailroom was interviewed and stated that the mailroom does not keep record of inmates receiving the mentioned Magazine. Unless, it is impounded or rejected and she has no record of this.

Based on the foregoing, your Request for Administrative Remedy is DENIED.

Publication mailed to prisoner held at Carl Robinson Correctional Institution on 10/07/2015.
Postmarked 5/16/2016, the publication was returned to MIM Distributors from MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution.

ULK no 36 has been previously reviewed and rejected by the Literature Review Committee in Central Office.

The department 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.

On February 16, 2014 the Literature Review Committee reviewed the questionable subject matter content in the publication that was submitted by the institution. It was determined to contain subject matter that is inadmissible per Rule 33-501.401(3)(g).

an issue with what is or is not noted on the DC5-101 form is not an Admissible Reading Material issue and should be initiated at the institutional level.

Based on the proceeding, your appeal is denied.