– Missouri Department of Corrections revokes controversial mail ban
– The ban had prohibited inmates from receiving all forms of paper mail
– The policy faced significant backlash from families and prisoners’ rights groups
– The Department of Corrections now replaces the ban with a scanning system
– The ACLU files a lawsuit claiming the ban violates First Amendment rights
Missouri Inmates’ Mail Ban Lifted, Following Year-Long Controversy
Earlier today, under sustained public scrutiny, the Missouri Department of Corrections repealed a year-old contentious mail ban that prohibited all forms of paper mail, from birthday cards all the way to the carefully penned letters between sweethearts and even children’s adorable drawings.
A Turn of the Page with a New Scanning System
Initially put into place to prevent contraband smuggling via mail, this hard-handed policy invoked the ire of families, prisoners’ rights groups, and the American Civil Liberties Union. The imposed suppression of the ink-and-paper human connection bore heavy upon the incarcerated individuals and their relations, estranging them further from society.
Seeing this, the Department of Corrections has made an about-face and replaced the ban with a fresh scan-based system. Now, incoming mail will be precisely scanned, ensuring no contraband slips through.
Did the ACLU’s Lawsuit Make an Impact?
Does this policy reversal boil down to a sudden bout of collective sentimentality at the Dept. of Corrections? We think not. The American Civil Liberties Union’s recent filing of a lawsuit against the Department, alleging the mail ban as a gross violation of prisoners’ First Amendment rights, might have played a significant role in the retreat.
The Breezy Take
When considering the two-fold effects of the mail ban — increased isolation of prisoners and violation of their First Amendment rights — the policy repeal, though overdue, is a welcome change. The implementation of a scanning system balances the Department of Corrections’ need to prevent contraband smuggling and uphold constitutional rights. But this saga also underscores the power of public spotlight coupled with legal action in reinstating basic human rights, even behind prison walls.
Original article: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/law-order/2023-08-30/missouri-prisons-ban-friends-and-family-from-sending-books-to-prisoners