No more daily newspapers for Spokane County (WA) jail inmates

AP ^ | 10/01/06

[teacherwoes]

SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Spokane County Jail has stopped providing dozens of copies of Spokane's daily newspaper for inmates, ending a decades-long practice after the jailers union complained the newspaper poses a "security risk."

[teacherwoes]

I'm sure the ACLU will see this as cruel and unusual punishment

[Dog Gone]

Jail officials decided if an inmate wants to buy the local paper, "he/she could do so out of their own pocket," according to minutes of the welfare fund board meeting.

Which proves that it's not a security risk at all.

[Battle Axe]

They were getting the paper...???

Oh I suppose the crossword puzzle, the want ads for a job when they get out, the comics.....

[stm]

No, forcing them to read the NY or LA Slimes....that would be cruel and unusual punishment.

[Horatio Gates]

The ACLU would most likely argue over lack of internet access in jail too now that the paper is forbidden

[kinoxi]

concerned that the newspaper contains too much personal information, including names and addresses of corrections officers and local patrol officers and pending legal charges against the incarcerated.

Sounds like the NYT's. Good call.

[stm]

The one place where I can see it being a security risk is the classifieds. It would be possible for someone to communicate with a prisoner using a pre-determined code. A completed contract killing could be easily disguised.

But you're right, if they say they can buy them, it really defeats the purpose.

[kinoxi]

Not just the classified. They were reading information about people involved in current detainee's cases.

[Mark was here]

Oh no! Not a formal grievance!

Mr Roger Hotrum the Burglar, should of consider the fact that he risked being punished if he was caught being a thief.

The lack of newspapers may provide enough of a deterrent to prevent Mr. Burglar from repeating his demonstration of his lack of respect for the property rights of others.