STORM2K

(CNN) -- Two inmates are suing Indiana because of a policy that bans graphic magazines, such as Playboy, Penthouse or Hustler.

The state Department of Corrections put a policy in place July 1 that bans sexually explicit letters and general-circulation publications. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, is on behalf of more than 20,000 state prisoners.

The policy is so broad that it bans personal letters between prisoners and loved ones, and much of the world's great art and literature, the inmates claim.

The policy states that It is intended to ensure the safety and security of the offenders and the facilities as they maintain contact with people in the community through correspondence, printed material and packages.

"The ban is for graphic description, rather than word description," Department of Corrections attorney Bob Bugher said.

Ernest Tope, 53, is serving a life sentence in Pendleton for murder, and Wade Meisberger, 34, is serving time in Miami for murder and auto theft.

"They are challenging the new policy through the prison grievance system, but they have not been successful," said Ken Falk, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union in Indiana.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Java Ahmed said that the agency has not received a copy of the lawsuit.

"We don't have any current plans to make any changes," Ahmed said. "If throughout the process the court says it's constitutionally inappropriate, we would do so, but we don't think it's unconstitutional."

Bunch of crybabies...it's already a "Club Med" with gym equipment, exercise yard, cable TV, 3 squares a day, etc.

George will love this post...

Janice wrote:George will love this post...

Yea I do. They are in prison, not a hotel or a resort. Their reading materials should be limited to religious and educational items. They should be too busy working to have time to watch TV or read porno mags.

Skywatch_NC wrote:Bunch of crybabies...it's already a "Club Med" with gym equipment, exercise yard, cable TV, 3 squares a day, etc.

You can say that again.

I'd tend to agree that they should be able to have such reading materials. I once worked in a prison setting and the golden rule was to never let the prisoners be bored for a VERY important reason: bored prisoners think of how to escape. Prisoners sentenced to labor should only be able to use them when at night before bedtime, but prisoners who are in a jail setting (not yet proven guilty) should be kept busy so that they don't start getting ideas about killing the guards.

Well there's always the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, Popular Mechanics, Life, TIME, Reader's Digest, Guideposts, etc.

If they are bored, they need to be working constantly. I am sure there is plenty of work to do around prisons.

Indeed, no pornography in prison; it's not a resort. Let them read National Geographic or other magazines so they actually learn something about the world and the society. And if they really want to wank, they should just use their imagination. Using their imagination often can help them to pick up their lives once they get out.

Prisoners , in particular inmates sentenced for murders, are in no place to challenge ANYTHING.
They are in prison for good reasons.

I'm not saying that while in prison, they may not have become better people, espcially the long-term prisoners, who may have converted etc etc, but the ones who did convert certainly didn't do it by looking at porno magazines. At least that woudn't have assisted them in anyway from becoming better people.

They could challenge the court until pigs (Or camels) fly, it should all fall on deaf ears.

-justin-

Hey, get the correction facilities to ban Grillz (mouth jewelery).

I am all in favor of any prisoner regardless of his crime finding God in prison. If it is true, it is a great thing and he and God can deal with that when their day comes to meet their maker. But, they also have a crime for which they have been charged by their state and they must deal with this too, separately. God cannot save them here and I don't think God intends to. Gods plan and the states plan for these prisoners are two separate items.

Janice wrote:I am all in favor of any prisoner regardless of his crime finding God in prison.

I'm with you there Janice. My only problem is when they lose God again once they are on the outside.....

sunny wrote:

Janice wrote:I am all in favor of any prisoner regardless of his crime finding God in prison.

I'm with you there Janice. My only problem is when they lose God again once they are on the outside.....[/quote]

You can say that again. Their devotion to the Bible often quickly changes to devotion to the crack pipe or the needle once the prison gates slam shut behind them as they are released.

Janice wrote:If they are bored, they need to be working constantly. I am sure there is plenty of work to do around prisons.

Exactly Janice. Most criminals have no work ethics . Those that are serving time need to be prepared for the responsibilties they will face upon release. By assigning them a job..and requiring them to perfom the assigned job satisfactorily, the prison staff will be preparing the inmates for a law abiding productive life upon release. In theory anyway.

Don't get me started on the "perks" of being in prison. My 83 year old mother still works and has never accepted any type of government aide even though my father died at 52 and she has been on her own since then. Her home has no air conditioning!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I think of prison my thoughts immediate go to CHAIN GANGS - You commit the crime you pay the price. The bad thing about our prisions today is that WE pay the price.

Grievances and arbitration, yah right As far as I'm concerned they have no civil liberties, they lost those when they were found guilty of the crime. JMHO

Pburgh wrote:As far as I'm concerned they have no civil liberties, they lost those when they were found guilty of the crime.

Fortunately the law says different.

george_r_1961 wrote:Most criminals have no work ethics .

DO you have a cite for this claim?

I know, I know but that's how I feel personally. Note I said as far as I'm concerned. Too bad.

gtalum wrote:

Pburgh wrote:As far as I'm concerned they have no civil liberties, they lost those when they were found guilty of the crime.

Fortunately the law says different.

No...more like UNfortunately. Give them an inch and they take a mile.