Censorship Survey Results

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1. Have you ever had books or other materials blocked or confiscated? If so, which ones? Why? Tell us about it.
   ". Currently incarcered within the Indiana DOC and until very recently, we were only allowed to get books from Amazon and Edward Hamilton books. Circumstances and an injunction have allowed us to receive from many new vendors. However, I was personally blocked from getting a book on the mind and understanding body language, due to: "used for manipulation"."
   
   
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. Materials or books containing even partial nudity has been known to take visitation privileges, however these incidents are very rare."
   
   
3. Should the prisons have the power to control what you can and cannot read or see? If yes OR no, why?
   "No. No publication should be restricted unless the exclusive materials aim to harm or otherwise violate any other individuals life or lifestyle. Racist propaganda included, although materials of this nature is often printed in cypher or difficult code, however often only in idealist terminology that present no direct or explicit threat."
   
   
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?
   "Yes. Legal mail is the only form of mail inmates are given original. All other material, correspondence is copied and originals destroyed (or filed). Many letters and/or "zines" are copied off center and content is lost. Magazines from approved sources are approved and permitted in original form."
   
   
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. No direct policy or censorship information is given. Any policy regarding any facility procedure is available on electronic tablets. However, tablets are not always available to every new inmate. Aside from this, new and updated policies can be accessed on the tablets when made current and delivered immediately."
   
   
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?
   "No. My confiscated book regarding psychology and individual body language was blocked due to 'mani[ulation'. I thought this reasoning so egregious and shocking that I lapsed in my appropriate timeframe for filing the grievance. The material was subsequently defstroyed."
   
   
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. Reading is a most direct and detailed form of education which includes self-imrpovement and outreach. Before the tablets, reading was literally our only opportunity to learn outside of ourselves. And frequently reading new materials provides the appropriate insights necessary to establish moral correctness / uprightedness."
   
   
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?
    "No. Confiscated/blocked materials has not been a recent problem for me or others taht I know of. Some books are only available in hardback editions which have never been allowed."
    
    
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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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.