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Corte Pone Fin A la Politica del Alguacil de Santa Rosa "Postcard Only" (Sólo Tarjetas Postales) |
Court Ends Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s “Postcard Only” Mail Policy Federal judge Casey Rodgers signed an order on February 13 reversing the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s “post card only” mail policy and ordering the jail to again allow inmates to exchange letters through the U.S. mail – the result of a legal challenge to the policy brought by the ACLU of Florida and the Florida Justice Institute (FJI). Judge Rodgers’s consent order approves an agreement between jail inmates and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff. According to the Court’s order, inmates in the Santa Rosa County Jail will now be able to send unlimited, regular letters. The Sheriff, who is responsible for administering the jail, must also provide writing materials to indigent inmates. The Sheriff has also agreed to pay $135,000 in attorney’s fees and costs to the ACLU and FJI for their efforts in securing the judgment. “Today’s ruling should be a clear sign that limiting or restricting the speech of people in jail and policies is illegal, will be challenged and the costs can be significant.” said Benjamin Stevenson, ACLU of Florida staff attorney based in Pensacola. “It’s equally important to remember that free speech rights work both ways – the government can’t restrict your right to speak to others or restrict the way you receive information.” The ACLU and FJI filed a federal suit in September, 2010 alleging that the policy restricting jail inmates’ ability to communicate with family and friends by limiting their mail to short, publicly viewable messages on postcards was a violation of their First Amendment right to free speech. “Under a postcard-only policy, Martin Luther King Jr. could not have sent his famous letter from the Birmingham Jail in 1963,” said Stevenson. |