Demand the Respect of Offender Correspondance Rules

For the Respect of
Offender Correspondence Rules

(version francaise suit sans
accents pour cause informatique)

Mail has a widely acknowledged highly esteemed value for death row inmates
throughout the US prison system, but especially at the Polunsky Unit, due to
its particular conditions as the prisoners are confined to their cells 23 hours
a day, therefore mail represents one of their few links with the outside world.

In the document BP-03.91Uniform Offender Correspondence Rules from June 1^st, 2004, it is stipulated that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice policy
aims to help the inmates to stay in touch with their families and friends. It
also mentioned that all the incoming and outgoing mail must be delivered,
inspected or rejected according to the various rules of this policy.

However, the personnel of the Mail Room of Polunsky Unit seems to be
proceeding to some doubtful practices in the treatment of incoming and outgoing
mail by not submitting themselves to these current rules.

The following facts have been observed several times by the inmates:

- arbitrary denial of sent documents

- disappearance of letters

- delay in the delivery of mail sent to the prisoners, outside the
established rules

We, signatories, are exhorting that the Mail Room personnel respects the
existing rules, put into place by the authorities.

We are strongly seeking that the incoming mail is delivered promptly to the
recipients, that a special care be taken so that mail going in any direction is
not lost, and finally that the denial of documents be explicitly justified to
the sender in a period of time sufficient for the latter to appeal if he
desired so.

Considering that correspondence is an essential right for the inmates, it
is vital that it is treated accordingly and in a respectful manner.

En francais

Pour le respect des regles en matiere de
correspondance

Le
courrier revet incontestablement un caractere tres precieux pour les
prisonniers du couloir de la mort de Polunsky Unit, celui-ci representant un de
leurs seuls liens avec le monde exterieur.

Dans le
reglement BP-03.91 du 1^erjuin 2004 Uniform Offender
Correspondence Rules en matiere de correspondance, il est precise que la
politique du Departement de Justice Criminelle du Texas vise a aider les
detenus a rester en contact avec leurs familles et leurs amis. Il est egalement
stipule que tout le courrier entrant et sortant est remis, inspecte ou rejete
selon les differentes regles dudit reglement.

Or, le
personnel de la Mail Room de Polunsky Unit semble proceder a des
pratiques douteuses dans le traitement du courrier entrant et sortant ne se soumettant
pas � ces presentes regles.

Les
faits suivants ont pu etre constates a diverses reprises par les prisonniers:

- refus
arbitraire�de documents envoyes

-
disparition de lettres

- delai
dans la remise du courrier aux prisonniers au-dela des normes �tablies

Nous,
signataires, exigeons que le personnel de la Mail Room respecte les regles en
vigueur, mises en place par eux-memes.

Nous
exigeons que le courrier entrant soit remis promptement aux detenus, qu�un soin
particulier soit pris pour eviter la perte de lettres dans quelconque direction
et finalement que tout refus de documents soit expressement justifie aupres de
l�expediteur, dans un delai suffisant pour lui permettre de faire appel si tel
est son desir.

Considerant
que la correspondance est un droit essentiel pour les prisonniers, il est
primordial que celui-ci soit traite de facon correcte et respectueuse.