Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

Publications Review Committee
Virginia Department of Corrections
PO Box 26963
Richmond, VA 23261

August 13, 2014

RE: Censorship of Under Lock & Key #38 and other mail to Mr. XXX

Dear Publications Review Committee,

Recently MIM Distributors was informed by Mr. XXX that Under Lock & Key May/June 2014 (#38) was disapproved by the Publication Review Committee. We did not receive any notification of this censorship. You are required, by Virginia Inmate Mail policy, to notify us of these rejections: "If opened, the unauthorized correspondence will be returned directly to the sender if known, with a written explanation for disapproval." (see https://vadoc.virginia.gov/offenders/prison-life/mail.shtm)

Further, court cases have upheld this requirement. In particular Montcalm Publishing Co. v. Beck, 80 F.3d105 (4th Cir. 1996) includs the following ruling regarding Virginia Department of Corrections Operating Procedure: "We hold that publishers are entitled to notice and an opportunity to be heard when their publications are disapproved for receipt by inmate subscribers."

We were never notified of this mail rejection, a clear violation of policy.

We request the following actions:
- A copy of the official inmate mail policy for the VA DOC
- Notification of all MIM Distributors rejected mail directly from the prison upon rejection
- Appeal the censorship of all Under Lock & Key May/June 2014

I appreciate your consideration, and anticipate your response.

Sincerely,


MIM Distributors

CC: Affected parties