2025 Censorship Update - Survey Results
Viewing survey response from NCCF
- Have you ever had books or other materials blocked or confiscated? If so, which ones? Why? Tell us about it.
"No. No" - 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. We are grown men. We should have the right to read anything we choose." - 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. They copy our letters, photos, greeting cards, and other mail. They do not yet copy books." - 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. They just started to copy our devotionals. They also do not allow us to get envelopes sent to us for return mail." - 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?
". The only grievance I filed was just a month ago about copying devotionals and only doing every other day (not the whole month)" - 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 the time and expands our minds" - 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?
"No. " - 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. Not tough to get. Certain materials such as Lexis Nexis you cannot get (no paying the fee)" - 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?
"yes. A marked reduction of access as well as no ability to do research." - 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. Yes we are allowed yo bring stuff to the yard, no we are not allowed [to share books] as that is considered trading and trafficking, a low level offense." - 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. Ugh, the books available on the tablet are at least 100 years old. It is utter crap. Even then it is NOT uypdated, and certain things are restricted (photos, history, etc)" - 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.