Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

The reason they cited:

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

Remarks: "Reason C. Pages(s) Entire publication contain security concerns."

USW Organizing Updates 3/8/2022

(e) Publication contains material on the setting up and operation of criminal schemes or how to avoid detection of criminal schemes by lawful authorities charged with the responsibility for detecting such illegal activity.

Reason E. Page(s) Entire publication contains security concerns.

On 5/19/2022 the above publication was appealed to the Director's Review Committee with the following decision rendered: DENIED: Offender Will Not Receive

What was the reason my newspaper/publication was censored from MIM Distributors on 2/4/2022? Please provide me with an articulate reason for such censorship with specific references to the objectionable material.

The item you are referring to is listed on their website as a magazine, the ADC does not allow inmates to receive magazines in the mail.

Good Day,

I am writing you regarding mail sent by our organization to Mr. XXXXXX XXXXXX (XXXXXX) in early February. This mail was returned to sender with a slip dated 2/10/2022 10:44AM stating the reason for refusal as:

"Publication that has been binded in the form of a book and not approved by the Chaplain is not allowed. All items returned to sender."

Is there a requirement to get reading material approved by the Chaplain before sending it to a prisoner at PWADC?

Meanwhile, Mr. XXXXXX has already grieved this censorship (on 2/5/2022) and was told it was censored because:

"The item you are referring to is listed on their website as a magazine, the ADC does not allow inmates to receive magazines in the mail."

In reality, it is listed as a study pack on our website. And since it was not in the form of a magazine, can you please explain to us what the reason was for returning this mail?

Sincerely,

J. O'Rourke

MIM Distributors