Censorship Survey Results

Viewing survey response from IL Menard Doc

1. Have you ever had books or other materials blocked or confiscated? If so, which ones? Why? Tell us about it.
   "Yes. House building (how to build, from site selection all through paint and rugs.) Apparently "safety & security" However, I know the book-build houses as my trade - so Shouldn't I, too, be kicked out of prison for "safety & security"? The history of the Black Panther Party - and I'm white; so I'm not allowed to read history books that contain true historical anecsotes?"
   
   
2. Have you ever been punished for reading material that was sent to you? If yes, what were the materials and what was the punishment?
   "No. "
   
   
3. Should the prisons have the power to control what you can and cannot read or see? If yes OR no, why?
   "No. Instead, "banned" books could be read in a forum with outside teachers or lecturers expouding...or, if a banning process must exist, only an outside-majority, inside-minority conglonerate should evaluate the books. Like 9 non-prison staff and 6 prison staff thoroughly reading, reviewing and voting on whether to allow the book or some vedacted form. TV's worse. They allow TV!"
   
   
4. Are you in a facility that scans incoming mail? Does the mailroom copy or scan newsletters and other printed reading materials? Does the facility's scanning policy affect your ability to read books and literature?
   "No. Hopefully never. If they do, as long as we dont have to pay for it. Although, I have had to get rid of hundreds of books due to not enough room. If they allowed us to save books into tablets as an optionn, it would be cool. But it could for a slippery slope."
   
   
5. In your present facility or any previous ones, did you receive a clear explanation of the facilities censorship policy? If yes, is it applied consistently or fairly? If no, what is it they tell you when something gets blocked?
   "No. Boilerplate forms with statute numbers and a summary of why denied. (The statute number is in case we want to look it up. Then they make it very hard to finally obtain the statue.) I have been in IL prisons that actually meet. with you to discuss what's banned and any future option you have."
   
   
6. Have you ever filed a grievance against your materials being blocked by the mailroom or getting confiscated? Were you successful? What was the explanation for blocking the material?
   "Yes. No, I was in stateville CC then, and as is well-known, grievances get "lost" or they take months to a year to respond, yet kept the 30-day process of disposing the book running. So the book was sent home a year before the grievance rubber-stamped the same standard excuse: safety & security."
   
   
7. Why do you think prisons censor what materials you can get? What's their game?
   
   
8. Is reading important to you? If yes, how so? As a way to pass time? As self-improvement? Education? Do you read daily?
   "Yes. Everything you mention. Plus entertainment. Education covers everything (mental, spiritual, emotional) but also cultural, ethnical, gender, etc. Education = Knowledge= Understanding. Understanding kills prejudice. Mark Twain has a quote about travel and understanding being fatal to hate & prejudice."
   
   
9. What do you like to read? Wha books or magazines are in your locker or on your shelf right now? How do you get books - from family? Friends? Books to prisoner projects, etc?
   
   
10. Are there things you want to read right now that are blocked? If so, what are they and why do you want them?
    "Yes. House-building books to keep abreast of new technology, tools, etc. Yet, on TV I can learn and take notes. Would my notes constitute "banned material"? Probably. Can you say blanket (lazy) oppression? And; black, indigenous, P.O.C. history books so I can learn about my fellow man;s experience I didn't have to suffer through to foment love and compassion."
    
    
11. Are you able to organize an authorized book club or reading group in your present facility?
    
    
12. Have you ever participated in a book club or group?
    
    
13. Have you ever been prohibited from informally discussing books as a group?
    
    
14. Do you have access to a law library? If so, are passes or ducats to the library readily available or tough to get? Do you receive the materials you need? Are there any restrictions you face, or barriers to accessing materials?
    "Yes. In frequent visits (max 4/mo) old material. But, installed kiosks that have slowly brought us into the 21st century."
    
    
15. How do you feel about the quality of the books made available in your facility's law library? Do you have access to printing or a copy machine? Is there a computer? What do you wish you had access to or available in a law library?
    
    
16. Has access to the law library at your present facility changed following the pandemic? If yes, how?
    "No. "
    
    
17. Does the facility allow you to bring books and other literature to the yard?
    
    
18. Are you allowed to share books or literature? Comments on sharing?
    "Yes. I have. We should be "allowed" but in max prisons its different than med & min."
    
    
19. Do you use a tablet? If so, how do you feel about the options for reading material available on it? What companies provide services on it? What services do they offer?
    "Yes. Guttenburg project books, through ViaPath (GTL). But thare are no page numbers on the ebooks. That is annoying for a plethora of reasons."
    
    
20. Has your outgoing mail ever been censored?
    
    
21. If you are a writer or artist, have restrictions on outgoing mail ever made it difficult to publish or self-publish your writing or creative works?
    
    
22. Lastly, is there anything you think we on the outside or the general public need to know about censorship, reading, books, education, or your life inside? Feel free to write as much as you want. We will read and value every word.