Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

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Unauthorized publication: x2 MIM Theory

Unauthorized publication: x2 MIM Theory

Assistant Section Chief
Support Services
4260 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4260

15 September 2015

RE: censorship of Under Lock & Key No. 45

Dear Sir/Madam,

Once again I am requesting a review of the decision of the Publication Review Committee Chair, Fay Lassiter, to censor Under Lock & Key. The reason given in her 3 September 2015 letter was that issue 45 “encourages insurrection and disorder.” At no point does Under Lock & Key No. 45 encourage insurrection nor does it encourage disorder. Despite Ms. Lassiter's banning of every issue of Under Lock & Key for four years straight, every issue promotes peace, organization and legal campaigns as means of addressing the abuse of prisoners. This is the opposite of encouraging “insurrection and disorder.”

It is illegal for you to censor mail that does not pose an actual threat to safety. Please recognize this, and rescind the decision to censor Under Lock & Key No. 45.


Sincerely,

Check one or more reasons for denial and cite page number of objectionable material.
[checked] (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: Reason c Pages 1+6 contains information detailing prison strikes

Does offender wish to appeal? Yes 9/11/15

DRC Upheld the denial on 10-1-15 (no employee signature given)

(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: Pgs 1&6 contain information detailing prison strikes

Does offender wish to appeal the denial? Yes

DRC upheld the denial on 10-1-15

(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: Pgs 1 + 6 contain information detailing prison strikes

Does offender wish to appeal the denial? Yes