Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A nonprofit that advocates for prisoners’ rights says a Tennessee county is illegally censoring mail the group sends to inmates and forcing the use of postcards instead of letters.
Prison Legal News filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court in Knoxville to stop the practice. The lawsuit says the Knox County Jail has censored at least 147 items the nonprofit sent to inmates since November 2014.
Jail policy says all personal mail to inmates must be on standard-size postcards with preprinted stamps.
The lawsuit says that policy serves no legitimate government interest and violates the group’s free-speech rights to communicate with inmates.
Prison Legal News wants a temporary court order to stop the censorship while the case makes its way through court.
A spokeswoman for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office says it doesn’t comment on pending litigation.