ACLU files lawsuit against Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Florida Justice Institute today announced the filing of a federal class action lawsuit against Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the Sheriff’s new postcard-only policy for jail inmate mail.

The group maintains the new policy severely restricts the free speech rights of inmates and their friends and family to communicate with each other.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall issued the following statement in response to the lawsuit: “Our inmates enjoy all privileges and rights as dictated by law, both state and federal. It is my understanding that the ACLU’s issue has been presented before the Federal courts several times and each time the courts have ruled in favor of this practice. We will not, nor have we ever, interfered with an inmate’s right to communicate per statutory requirement. This practice was initiated based on two factors: Cost to the taxpayers and security of the facility."

For more on this story, check out the Sept. 23 edition of the Navarre Press, or subscribe online.