Virginia’s correctional department has been ordered by a federal judge to explain why it allows prisoners to have only religious CDs, after an inmate sued for being denied a collection of Dylan Thomas’ poetry.

 

Plaintiff Owen North filed his lawsuit after he tried to give his friend, inmate Shawn Goode, a Christmas gift: “The Caedmon Collection,” a CD featuring Thomas reading his poetry and that of others. North was informed by prison officials that rules required Goode to purchase the disc himself. So North gave Goode the money to do so. But when Goode tried to buy the CD through the only company approved by the Virginia Department of Corrections, his purchase request was denied because corrections regulations instituted in August 2009 forbid prisoners from having non-music CDs unless they are faith-based.

 

Chief District Judge James Spencer ruled the policy violated the free speech rights of North because the CD represented a “distinct communication” which the inmate wanted to receive.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Prison Can't Duck Suit Over Dylan Thomas CD (by Rose Bouboushian, Courthouse News Service)

Owen North v. Harold Clarke and John Jabe (U.S. District Court, Eastern Virginia, Richmond) (pdf)