Settlement reached in jail mail suit

Federal judge Casey Rodgers signed an order reversing the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s “post card only” mail policy and ordered the jail to again allow inmates to exchange letters through the U.S. Postal Service.

The ACLU of Florida and the Florida Justice Institute challenged the policy by filing a federal lawsuit back 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.

“It’s a major victory for the ability of citizens to exercise their right to speak without government over sight and interference – rights people retain even in jail,” said Joshua Glickman, an attorney for FJI. “By striking down the policy, the Court has made it clear that jail and prison rules which stifle free speech are not permitted.”

According to the Sheriff’s Office, jail inmates were forbidden from mailing any non-privileged mail (mail to someone other than courts, attorneys, government officials or agencies, and news media) that is not in postcard format to outside correspondents.  The policy went into effect July 26, 2010.

For more on this story, see the Feb. 23 issue of Navarre Press or subscribe online.