La. man wins challenge of Virginia prison policy

Posted to: Crime News Virginia
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The Associated Press
© February 7, 2012

RICHMOND

A federal judge has ruled in favor of a Louisiana man who challenged a Virginia prison system policy that restricts the kind of CDs inmates can have.

U.S. District Judge James Spencer in Richmond granted a motion by Owen North of LeCompte, La., for summary judgment Tuesday.

At issue was a policy allowing inmates to have only approved music and faith-based spoken-word CDs, such as religious sermons. The policy prevented North from giving a Virginia inmate a spoken-word CD by writer Dylan Thomas as a Christmas gift.

Spencer ruled the policy violated North's First Amendment right of expression.

Prison officials claimed the restrictions served a valid government interest.

North filed a federal lawsuit last April. His friend, Shawn Goode, was a prisoner at Nottoway Correctional Center.

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Is some prisoner going to

Submitted by notfiveo on Tue, 02/07/2012 at 11:40 pm.

Is some prisoner going to challenge the right to not be incarcerated against their will? This is so asinine, the fact that a CD can be sharpened and used as a weapon should in itself be a reason to ban them completely. The prison should play classical music 24/7 paint the walls pink and give them pink prison garb.

Hmmmmm

Submitted by And Another Thing on Tue, 02/07/2012 at 8:24 pm.

It's called PRISON. Not "home", "vacation" or anything else. I fail to see why these CRIMINALS are allowed ANY creature comforts whatsoever.

why should they have any

Submitted by drwyfriday on Tue, 02/07/2012 at 8:10 pm.

why should they have any CDs-do you give your kids things when they are being punished. these inmates have more rights then the good people.

The "Good" People

Submitted by treetops on Tue, 02/07/2012 at 8:35 pm.

Instead of "good" people, it's the people who didn't get caught doing bad things. What happened to "hate the sin, but love the sinner?"

Piety can be used in an attempt to hide the fact that ABSOLUTELY NO ONE has not done things they should not have done, but they were lucky enough not to get caught.

If you are without sin, we'll have to name a holiday for you.