ACLU Sues Local Jail

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The American Civil Liberties Union says a Panhandle jail's policy of limiting inmates' outgoing mail to postcards violates their free speech rights.

The ACLU and the Florida Justice Institute filed a federal lawsuit on Sept. 13 on behalf of three Santa Rosa County Jail inmates, who had complained about the policy. They claim restricting outgoing mail to postcards infringes on the privacy of inmates. The groups claim the practice began in July. They want the inmates to be allowed to send letters in envelopes.

In a statement sent to News 5, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall said, “Our inmates enjoy all privileges and rights as dictated by law, both state and federal. It is my understanding that the ACLU’s issue has been presented before the Federal courts several times and each time the courts have ruled in favor of this practice. We will not, nor have we ever, interfered with an inmate’s right to communicate per statutory requirement. This practice was initiated based on two factors: (1) Cost to the taxpayers and (2) Security of the facility. "