Censorship Survey Results

2025 Censorship Update - Survey Results

Why do you think prisons censor what materials you can get? What's their game?

"It is a form of control, if they were really about reducing crime, books that show you how to empower yourself would be allowed."
IL/Wicc
"In some cases some books can encourage and evem educate criminal or hateful behavior. So I understand the logic behind some censor. To be honest."
NBCI
"They want total control, No news from outside, no thoughts of hope."
Indiana/ IYC
"I think it is a form of control, manipulation, and humiliation. Their end game is if you're unedcuated you cannot fight against them legally, and they can do what they want with you- you dont know any better."
IN 46168
"To have domination"
Cook County Jail
"To create chaos in jail. For being inocent"
Cook County Jail
"I think prisons censor the materials we can get as a form of control and punishment to keep us uninformed and ignorant. The less we know, the more they can manipulate us and abuse us."
CCDOC/IL
"Several reasons: 1.) Power & abuse of power, 2.) To block mail to ease jobs, and 3.) some staff dont like inmates - case laws support this."
llinois, USP-Marion
"They do it because they can. It's all about power and control."
Westville Correctional Facility
"They want max control and minimal resistance."
IL, Jacksonville
"They want total control"
IL, Hill corrctr
"Idk, control?"
Pinckneyuine
"They're idiots! Somebody tells them if they stop mags like these, no homosexual will happen. But it still happens. Other stuff I think its because they dont want us to be educated."
Ind, New Castle
"Purely harrassment and control"
USP Marion
"To have more knowledge and resources than you. To encourage you to continue to try and beat the system with criminal activity and the system continues on boy after boys in & out. No rehabilitation, but AWT of money to bank."
Cook County Jail
"Abusing their power and authority. They are more concern with banning and censoring books rather than being concern with their staff and officers who are trafficking dangerous drugs in I.D.O.C facilities and inmates are overdosing and dying."
Westville Correctional Facility
"Surveillance, control, pure unadultrated redepression of the natural order of mankind."
USP-Beaumont
"Knowledge control. The ruling class actually fears a social democracy, relying on a plutocratic constitution and control of information to keep control of the masses. Knowledge dispells ignorance and prejudice. This forments unity. Unity and peace are antithetical to ideals of the ruling class."
IL Menard Doc
"Misinformation = ignorance, so they can take advantage of us."
Dixon. C.C
"They give all kinds of reasons, but I truly think it is to make us feel as misreable as possible. They dont have to do it, they choose to. So that means they do it out of spite."
Miami Corr Fac Indiana
"Previleging themselves to what your into. Any outgoing mail is censor & often delayed. Staff trying to steal valuable information such as big money ideas or inventions or confidential information,"
USP-Coleman I
"The standard "safe" answer is always involving "security", but I suspect it's often just "throwing thin weight" around so as to be punitive."
Elkton FCI
"So one will come back to prison and keep them in business."
Westville Correctional Facility
"Control, plain and simple. If every inmate no matter race/belief was on the same page, we could not be caged in these opressive conditions where every little joy is stolen. If reading what I like gives me joy then that means I am not being "punished" enough."
Pinckneyville Correctional Center
"I believe that prisons censor the materials we can receive to control us from becoming enlightened; from being woke. I belive they censor us for the same reasons mentioned in "The Lifespan of Anti-Literacy" by Wayland "X" Coleman featured in your pamphlet - I strongly aree with Colean's article."
Menard CC IL
"When it comes to the books, I think they don't want prisoners to be educated or knowledgeable when we just wanna read. Now the magazines, they don't want us to see the womeneven if they're fully clothed. I think they want us to be just "dumb"."
CCDOC
"Prison censors material because it is the most anti-educational facility ever built. There is no other place that works so hard against you trying to better yourself. Several inmates here have given up on trying to take correspondence courses as the mailroom constantly delays and loses mail. The prison wants you to fail and return to keep the prison full."
Federal Satellite Low Elkton
"They are understaffed and the less mail they have to deliver the easier it is on them. Some mail sits in the mail room for months. It took me 3 months to get a copy of a birthday card and a month for a Christmas card."
Federal Corr Inst. Perkin, IL
"Because they are conrol freaks."
Pinckneyville Prison Facility
"It's their own personal beliefs I think."
Big Muddy River CC IL
"They say it's for security reasons and part of the rehabilitation process. Their game is to be the most controlling they can be. They do whatever they can to punish us in any form they can to get at us for being in prison."
North Dakota State Penitentiary
"For control or so we are not comfortable."
Big Muddy River CC IL
"Yes, we have two censor powers here in the program I am in. The mail room, then the treatment staff. So I am hit double hard. The end game is to scan the mail. I am civilly committed and they should not be going through my mail. But the law is not followed."
Big Muddy River CC IL
"To make out time harder and to fuck with us."
N/A
"I strongly think prison censor materials for the cause of obstructing/delay justice owe to people like myself. I believe that their game violates the U.S Constitution guarantee rights in order to support criminal activities such as "mindreading" under the color of psychiatry/psycology."
N/A
"To keep you from knowing different things you should and need to know in order to fight against the system. Prison itself."
Pinckneyville Corr. Ctr.
"Fear. They want to keep us from being educated, it is easier to control the people if they remain uneducated and we all read, write, listen to the same music, watch the same "programs", wear the same clothes, etc. "The most dangerous prisoners are readers & writers.""
Centralia corrections
"The game is slavery! Control, power, stupidity."
Indiana/ISF
"They claim it is to stop the flow of drugs from coming into the prison. But it has done no good."
IL, Marlor
"Oppression. Christian view that incarceration is punishment and not rehabilitation."
I.S.P
"Their game is to create monopoly, from secures for kick back, to control us, to keep us miserable, to keep us from learning and fighting back the injustice. TDCJ is a fine example at all the dumb prisoners scary they refuse to fight for the rights. Im a New Yorker, the fight is routed in me."
Clifford Clark
"To sensitize the information we see"
PA-Rockview
"The prison censor to gain self control; also the security safety and because of pay backs."
Dixon-Illinois
"Mostly to avoid content that could make their jobs harder. Ideas for lawsuits from inmates, sharing of knowledge, questining the legality of things."
FCI Pekin
"Probably because they treat us like children, or because of sexual orientation (PREA) at the units"
WIDOC Taycheedah
"I think it's because they want to keep us depressed"
WI Oshkosh
"Their "game" is really simple; to preserve the safety and security of the institution. The problem is the line has been blurred by staff using their preferences to deny items which should be by policy allowed."
WI Stanley Correctional
"In theory, safety and control. But given the wild inconsistency I've personally experienced, I'd say it's down ot the whims of whatever CO is processing my property. Based on responses I've gotten, it is clear to me most COs don't actually know what 309.00.50 defines as porn, and simply operates on a common sense definition with the additional concept of "no nudity". And it's absolutely obvious they have no idea about First Amendment protections."
WIDOC Waupun
"The same reason why they yell and curse at us. It's a control thing. I always say if this is a correctional center then how is telling someone to "get the fuck in the cell" exemplifying professionalism. Where else will we be talked down to like this?"
MCC Chicago
"They do not want you to gain knowledge and knowledge is powerful! THey want you to just remain a stooge."
Indiana Pendleton
"Censorship is arguable only when in regards to the facility's safety and security. However, "safety and security" is appropriated as an umbrella term/phrase and is actually VERY RARELY the case. No other circumstance should allow publication censoring."
"95% control, "who's boss""
FCI Butner
"Because they can. And they get away with it. We have no real oversight here. If you try to talk to a superior, the superior normally treats you worse."
USP Marion
"They think they are superheroes with capes protecting the community and fostering rehabilitation by preventing all learning and communication. They're nuts."
WI/JCI
"To keep us in line with what they want us to learn. They want us indoctrinated but only with their doctrine."
FCI Petersburg
"I think when they censor material like this it is usually some right wing religious fascist doing it. In this case it is always the same officer, leading me to believe he flagged the magazines."
WIDOC
"They say it is to stop drugs from coming into the prisons."
NCCF