Censorship Survey Results

Viewing survey response from USP-Beaumont

1. Have you ever had books or other materials blocked or confiscated? If so, which ones? Why? Tell us about it.
   "Yes. When I was at USP-Thomson, midwest books to prisoners sent a magazine, whcih was not allowed due to the magazine having a picture of USP-Thomson on the front of magazine and/or USP-Thomson was mentioned within the magazine."
   
   
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?
   "Yes. The magazine mentioned above, the act of confiscating the magazine without letting me read it, the magazine was a part of the punishment, then I became destraught, depressed and I started having anxiety attacks, which I am diagnosed with."
   
   
3. Should the prisons have the power to control what you can and cannot read or see? If yes OR no, why?
   "No. No one should control anybody's literacy. This thing about controlling the people's reading is a serious injustice. And we must rise up!"
   
   
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. USP-Beaumont follow the BOP program statements/policy and procedures so they do not copy, scan, and/or confiscate any reading material!"
   
   
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. They love to quote "A danger to institution safety, peace, and security""
   
   
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. Yes, I've won. See question 5"
   
   
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. Qll of the above, I read for a way to pass time, self-improvement, education. I try to read a copy of hours a day. And do you know if they accomplish this censorship/banning of reading, it will push us back to the stone ages."
   
   
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. Yeah, I would like to read the magazine midwest books to prisoners sent to me when I was at USP-Thomson (smu)"
    
    
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. Yes, I cannot receive the proper forms from the education department, where the law library is located."
    
    
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?
    "Yes. Certain USP's are constantly locking us down, and/or I movement is restricted/donfined which is violation of our prisoners constitutional rights."
    
    
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. Yes, It's pretty decent at USP-Beaumont with things like that."
    
    
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. The offers are controlled, but if im not mistaken we can download books to the tablet, but I am old fashion."
    
    
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.