Town Hall on prison conditions uncovers concerns about new mail policy
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Legal Advocates held a town hall on Monday for the public to voice concerns about prison conditions in Missouri. One of the most-discussed topics was a new mail policy.
Starting June 15, all private mail for inmates will now be sent to a mail processing center in Florida. The mail is then scanned and sent to inmates as a digital copy. The Department of Corrections says it hopes this will stop drugs from getting into prisons.
Norman Brown, who spent 31 years behind bars, spoke during the town hall. He said getting mail is important for the mental health of prisoners.
"I think people that have not experienced this would think it's just a letter. No, man it's everything, that's your link to the outside world," Brown said.
Officials with the department said the new mail procedure is designed to improve health and safety for offenders and staff.
Speakers said the policy was not necessary to stop contraband getting into DOC facilities and said some prisons break laws to test screen mail.
A lawsuit in Massachusetts on behalf of the prisons alleged the state prison system was sneaking drugs in through unreliable drug tests.
The NAACP said it invited DOC to attend the town hall. This is one of several meetings and the NAACP is hopeful the representatives with DOC will be able to attend the next meeting.
Other speakers at Monday's town hall included Marshall Project reporter and author Keri Blakinger and Missouri Prison Reform Director Lori Curry.
Other concerns brought up included overcrowding and lack of staff, lack of air conditioning, lack of medical care, lack of nutritious food and more.
According to the Prison Policy Initiative, Missouri is one of 13 famously hot states lacking universal AC in prisons. This year's Capitol Improvement Projects could bring air conditioning to all prisons without air conditioning.
