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Suffolk County Jail Ordered To Provide Newspaper Access To Prisoners
Suffolk County (New York) Jail prisoner Donato Manicone brought federal civil rights action against the jail for denial of medical assistance and claimed that he was denied access to newspapers. The medical claim was dismissed as not factual but access to newspapers was ordered.
Manicone's medical claims were disproven by extensive documentation. The jail admitted to denying newspaper access, arguing "free access to newspapers have disruptive effects... particularly...police activities, and accounts dealing and" pertaining to..the inmate," and that "the accumulation of newspapers raises a serious problem of fire prevention and control."
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York held that under our Constitution such inconvenience is unavoidable. The court held that no basis existed for total restrictions on prisoners' access to news as is provided for by the First Amendment. It was further ordered that the access shall be provided at the jail's expense, and that newspapers be allowed to be sent in from the publisher at the prisoners' expense. See: United States ex rel. Manicone v. Corso. 365 F. Supp. 576 (E.D. N.Y. 1973).
Manicone's medical claims were disproven by extensive documentation. The jail admitted to denying newspaper access, arguing "free access to newspapers have disruptive effects... particularly...police activities, and accounts dealing and" pertaining to..the inmate," and that "the accumulation of newspapers raises a serious problem of fire prevention and control."
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York held that under our Constitution such inconvenience is unavoidable. The court held that no basis existed for total restrictions on prisoners' access to news as is provided for by the First Amendment. It was further ordered that the access shall be provided at the jail's expense, and that newspapers be allowed to be sent in from the publisher at the prisoners' expense. See: United States ex rel. Manicone v. Corso. 365 F. Supp. 576 (E.D. N.Y. 1973).
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Related legal case
United States ex rel. Manicone v. Corso
| Year | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 365 F. Supp. 576 (E.D. N.Y. 1973) |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Bench Verdict |
| Injunction Status | Granted |