A number of organizations have voiced their disapproval of a major change in how mail is delivered to Pennsylvania state prison inmates.
In an effort to crack down on the smuggling of illegal drugs into prisons, the state Corrections Department has taken a number of steps, including halting the direct delivery of mail. Inmates will now be given a copy of their mail.
Vic Walczak- Legal Director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania- says that leaves too much space for interference in sensitive legal matters.
“We represent prisoners who are suing the guards,” Walczak said. “They may be suing for any number of civil rights violations. And the person they are suing could potentially be the person who is opening the mail.”
The ACLU, the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, and the Abolitionist Law Center have written to the Corrections Department arguing the new policy violates inmates’ rights. The department has not yet responded.
In August, six Butler County Prison workers were sickened after coming into contact with an unknown substance. Warden Joe Demore has said it was likely synthetic marijuana that got into the jail via mail.
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