The Associated Press
HELENA, Mont. — The Montana State Prison has changed how it handles inmate mail months after a prisoner sued over what he called a discriminatory English-only policy.
Inmate William Diaz-Wassmer says prison officials are withholding letters written in Spanish by the Guatemala native’s friends and family. The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana filed a lawsuit in June that says the prison’s policy violates Diaz-Wassmer’s constitutional rights of free speech and equal protection
State attorneys have previously said that no discriminatory mail policy exists at the Deer Lodge prison. Incoming mail must be screened to maintain safety and security, and if mail is written in code or any language not understood by prison personnel, it is returned to the sender, the prison’s original correspondence policy stated.
Full Story: Prison changes inmate mail policy after lawsuit