The Texas Tribune reported yesterday that, TCRP "released a report ... on the list of 11,850 books banned by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice — everything from a collection of DaVinci's sketchbooks to the works of Salman Rushdie. Even some winners of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award and the O. Henry Award aren't allowed." Further,
Censorship rates have increased in the last five years though the number of inmates has leveled off, said Scott Medlock, director of the organization's Prisoners' Rights Program. And while inmates can appeal a ruling by requesting a review from a TDCJ committee, Medlock said 87 percent of appeals are denied.Congrats to TCRP on performing the tedious legwork to document this ongoing phenomenon.
"If the low-level mail employees make the wrong decision, that's one thing," Medlock said. "But if you have [virtually] no opportunity to appeal, that's even more disturbing."
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9 comments:
You can add Fannie Flagg to the list. They won't allow "Fried Green Tomatoes" in TDCJ.
I sent my dad Stephen Kings Salems Lot. They denied it. As it turned out they had it in the units library already. The reason for not allowing my dad to have it was something like "could incite prisoner violence." The mailroom didn't even know what books the unit had available!
Sometimes I wonder if they even hire people who know how to read.
You have to be dumber than dirt before TDJC will hire you. How can ignorant people ban books, oh yea the Nazis did that.
It's hardly a phenomenon to understand that, in many cases, the mail room clerks and those making these key decisions are illiterate. Look, just over a year ago, you could become a C.O. with a GED, waivers for physical agility and a resume with Burger King and McDonalds as your work experience.
Phenomenon? Give me a break! It's TEXAS!
At least we now have a list.
TDCJ goes overboard again.This Bill was done by former Representative Buddy West who was involved in projects of Families for Decency, which was a "good thing". This Bill was to stop the huge amount of RXXX rated magazines with sex acts, sex torture, nudity, and that type of publications.Due to the new war occuring concerning Sex Offenders with so many going to prison this became a critical issue inside the prisons. Inmates who were not in prison for sexual crimes were now instead of being rehabilitated were now being released back into your communities with sexual addiction problems that they did not have prior to prison because they became hooked on porn while in prison.The TDCJ guidelines need to be reviewed and adjusted.
Jenna Bush????
It would seem that the over paid Staff counsel for Inmates, whose purpose is dubious at best, should be doing the work that Mr. Medlock is being forced by circumstance to perform.
Let the censorship be lifted completely. Anarchist cookbook, Soldier of Fortune, Shawshank Redemption, whatever. Reading of any sort is better than frustration by boredom.
I was sent a media mail package from a friend who is incarcerated in TDCJ. the package contained a book that was banned and to his understanding it was because of something on a certain page number. I remember opening the book to that page and seeing The Vitruvian Man by da Vinci.
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