Volusia Jail's attempt to restrict inmate mail fails? Is Flagler County Jail now attempting to do the same?
Updated January 9, 2011
"Stupid is as stupid does"- From the movie - Forrest Gump -1994
UPDATE January 9, 2011 -- Well, apparently the Flagler County Jail has decided to restrict inmate mail to postcards. It would appear by the below attached documents that last year (2010) Volusia County Jail attempted to do the same. However, after a inmate filed a jailhouse lawsuit, Volusia County withdrew their modified inmate mail policy. Question - Does Flagler County, like Volusia County have a third party inmate telephone provider. VolusiaExposed.Com has a understanding that these thrid party telephone systems are big revenue sources for these county jails. VolusiaExposed.Com will follow up on these matters as the situation develops.
Word has been received that the Volusia County jail will soon stop allowing their inmates from receiving personal letters. Apparently soon, family and friends must start writing inmates by postcards.
Apparently, the use of postcards over envelopes to send mail will reduce the time jail staff must spend insuring that no contraband enter the jail. Sounds somewhat logical.
However, this postcard flap is not unique to Volusia County. The ACLU is currently suing other jail(s) for similar postcard mandates. This shall be an interesting situation to watch develop.
Click here to read about the ACLU lawsuit One of our devoted readers has pointed out to us that the above ACLU lawsuit involves inmate outgoing mail over the Volusia issue of incoming mail - this jail mail situation is a current issue all over the country - a simple google search will reveal that this issue is not just a local issue. We thank our reader for the clarification.
Apparently, some Volusia County inmates have filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court asking for relief from this new policy. Further, word is that the Volusia County Jail has delayed implementation of the new policy pending a decision in the lawsuit.
We now have obtained a copy of the inmate lawsuit.
Apparently a new memo has been posted that retracts the initial notification of the pending policy change. In order to gain some clarity on the issue, VolusiaExposed has requested (via public records) a copy of these memos.
Apparently, the first notification advises the inmate population that only postcards will be accepted as incoming personal mail - then the second notification appears to state that the first notification was posted in error. Below is a link to a "Request for Interview" filed by several inmates that appears to be filing a complaint about the first notification. It appears that a jail captain (Prince) wrote that the inmates concerns had "no merit". Apparently, by the jail posting the second memo, the inmates concerns had some merit. Did a jail house filed lawsuit stop this new mail policy from being implemented?
VolusiaExposed.Com can not understand what is the big deal? Jail inmates have been receiving letters for centuries. Why all of a sudden is it such a security risk? Thirty years ago when high school drop outs could become jail guards, those guards were apparently smart enough to locate any contraband hidden in envelopes. Today, many of our correctional officers have college degrees. It just seems like we pay our government officials more and more and get less and less.
If the jail really wants to crack down on contraband introduction, then might we suggest that it starts criminally charging the officers that smuggle contraband to the inmates for financial gain? Cases in point:
We are left wondering if more contraband is smuggled in by correctional staff, then delivered by the United States Postal Service. Maybe, just maybe, this new mail policy is an attempt by jail staff to cut out the competition (USPS)? Is that last statement just wrong? No, I'll tell you what is wrong - allowing an officer to sell his badge so that he can bring in contraband, and in doing so, putting at risk the lives of both staff and inmates AND when he is caught, no criminal charges are filed - now that is just wrong. (Special note - also paying too much for your cell phone minutes is wrong)
Interesting how Volusia County is so interested in what their inmates are writing or receiving from their families. If only these same Volusia County officials had shown as much interest in their Beach Patrol officers text messages to underage girls OR their Deputy Chief's on duty internet history. Maybe, just maybe, we would not have several ex-law enforcement Beach Patrol officers under criminal charges for engaging in sex with underage girls. Maybe, Volusia County would not be defending itself from a lawsuit from one of these underage girls. Maybe, the Deputy Chief would not had to been disciplined for downloading approximately 12,000 porn images while on duty.
QUESTION - HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DOWNLOAD OVER 12,000 PORN IMAGES WHILE YOU ARE BUSY COLLECTING A COUNTY PAYCHECK?