– Missouri’s Department of Corrections’ policy banning paper mail in prisons gets challenged.
– The ACLU of Missouri and the MacArthur Justice Center sues the department on the grounds of infringement on free speech rights.
– Contrarily, the department states that the move is to prevent an influx of illicit drugs.
– Both parties await a federal judge’s ruling on the matter.
Missouri’s Prison Mail Ban Comes Under Fire
The banning of paper mail in Missouri prisons, a policy implemented over a year ago by the Missouri Department of Corrections, has stirred considerable controversy. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Missouri and the MacArthur Justice Center have launched a legal challenge against the Department, claiming this policy infringes upon constitutional free speech rights.
Battle Over Correspondence
The legal challenge posits that the prohibition of personal mail for prisoners deprives them of meaningful communication with their loved ones and professional contacts. Critics argue that as mail is such a critical and often sole line of communication, curtailing it is counterproductive to prisoners’ reformation and rehabilitation efforts.
Keeping Drug Infiltration at Bay: The Department’s Stand
In contrast, the Department asserts that the ban is a strategic effort to combat the increasing influx of illicit drugs into prisons. It states that drugs often find their way into facilities, hidden amidst paper letters and other mail, jeopardizing inmate health and prison security.
The policy’s implications remain under dispute while both parties await a federal judge’s ruling on the matter.
The Breezy Take
As the debate intensifies, it’s crucial to strike a balance between maintaining prison security and upholding fundamental constitutional rights. The issue strikes at the heart of the question of what the prison system is for – is it solely punitive, intended only for punishment, or should it rehabilitate and support societal reintegration? The discord between the Department of Corrections and civil liberties groups imprints another dollop of suspense on this ever-thickening legal drama. Whatever the ruling, it’s clear that this is a dialogue that needs to continue with greater national attention.
Original article: https://stlpr.org/law-order/2023-08-30/missouri-prisons-ban-friends-and-family-from-sending-books-to-prisoners