GREELEY, Colo. (CN) — The nonprofit publisher of Prison Legal News sued Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams in federal court on Tuesday, claiming the northern Colorado county’s jail is preventing inmates from receiving its publications.
The nonprofit Human Rights Defense Center counted 114 pieces of mail rejected by the Weld County Jail since last August, including 40 issues of Prison Legal News, 43 issues of Criminal Legal News, 14 copies of the Prisoners’ Handbook and 13 informational packets.
“Banning these publications from reaching those who are in jail is an affront to the First Amendment, as well as counterproductive to the goals of security and rehabilitation,” said Jonathan Picard, litigation director for Human Rights Defense Center, in a statement…