2025 Censorship Update - Survey Results
Viewing survey response from Indiana/ISF
- Have you ever had books or other materials blocked or confiscated? If so, which ones? Why? Tell us about it.
"Yes. Books. The reasons changed on the days I had interviews with prison investigations officers. I dont know the books names because they were not provided to me that I can remember, but some reasons include stains, poweder substance, not being sent from publisher, drugs...you name it they tried it. "did it" I was never written up, the officer stated lets leave it alone and no charges will be filed." - 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. " - Should the prisons have the power to control what you can and cannot read or see? If yes OR no, why?
"No. I dont know the politically correct terms but it just doesnt feel right. It feels very controlling/power trip." - 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?
"Yes. Our facility copies legal mail, Im not sure about newsletters, and they have copied peoples picture books that have been being sent in." - 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. To my knowledge my current facility does what they want and previous places I have been in Indiana still receive mail the old way or regualr way." - 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! Maybe at making investigations & intelligence officers harass me! They never listed a reason. But during multiple interviwes, the stories changed from stains, powder substance, not sent from publisher. "you name it"" - Why do you think prisons censor what materials you can get? What's their game?
- Is reading important to you? If yes, how so? As a way to pass time? As self-improvement? Education? Do you read daily?
"Yes. Reading passes time for me and is another outlet to gain knowledge. Yes I read daily." - 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?
- Are there things you want to read right now that are blocked? If so, what are they and why do you want them?
"Yes. Kite magazine! Because they usually publish inside the magazine new laws that are passed to help prisoners or ways to beat case or information on how to win lawsuits" - Are you able to organize an authorized book club or reading group in your present facility?
- Have you ever participated in a book club or group?
- Have you ever been prohibited from informally discussing books as a group?
- 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. It's easy to get to the law library on most occasions, materials as simple as writing utensils are not provided." - 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?
- Has access to the law library at your present facility changed following the pandemic? If yes, how?
"N/A. " - Does the facility allow you to bring books and other literature to the yard?
- Are you allowed to share books or literature? Comments on sharing?
"No. Technically speaking you can bring books to the yeard but if magazines or books have another offender's name on his property that means you are committing a major rule violation. "unathorized possession"" - 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. I feel the options are old books. Our tablet is GTL." - Has your outgoing mail ever been censored?
- 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?
- 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.