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Texas Prison System Bans Greetings Cards, Postcards, Colored Paper in Mail
Loaded on Aug. 1, 2020
by Matthew Clarke
published in Prison Legal News
August, 2020, page 62
Filed under:
Mail Regulations.
Location:
Texas.
by Matt Clarke
On March 1, 2020, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) began enforcing sweeping new restrictions on the mail received in its 104 prisons. The new policy basically bans prisoners from receiving anything except letters written on plain white paper mailed in plain white envelopes.
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More from this issue:
- Coronavirus in Prison: The Cruel Reality, by Christopher Zoukis
- Survey of 8,000 Prisoners’ Political Views Finds Surprising Results, by David Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- “Collateral Consequences” of Convictions Hinder Chances of Post-Prison Success, by Dale Chappell
- How to Fail at Running a Prison During a Pandemic, by Anthony Accurso
- Medical Director of California Prison System Removed After Dubious Transfers Spike COVID-19 Counts, by Derek Gilna
- New Initiatives from Philadelphia, Koch Industries, Work to Get Ex-Offenders Jobs, by Anthony Accurso
- Judge Awards $273,246 Payment to New York Prisoner Beaten by Guard, by David Reutter
- Prison Postcards: “I feel as though I was either in a car accident or beaten by a baseball bat.”, by Ken Silverstein
- Utah State Auditor Finds Grave Deficiencies in Prisoner Placement Program, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
- Justice Department and GEO Group Challenge California’s Ban on Private Prison and Detention Facilities, by Matthew Clarke
- Nevada Court Rules Prison Officials Withheld Evidence from Prisoner, by David Reutter
- U.S. District Court Says Rhode Island Department of Corrections Violated “Morris Rules”, by Douglas Ankney
- Injunction Orders Protection for Prisoner Witnesses in California Disability Lawsuit, by David Reutter
- Lockdowns Follow “Coordinated” Gang Fights at Oklahoma Prisons, by David Reutter
- California Scrambled to Staff Wildfire Crews After Firefighting Prisoners Locked Down Due to COVID-19, by Dale Chappell
- Texas Execs Sentenced for Providing Bad Food to BOP, by Edward Lyon
- Colorado Parole Board Cannot Confine Parolee Beyond Statutory Max, by Anthony Accurso
- Coronavirus Will Not Be Controlled in Country Until It Is Controlled in Prisons and Jails, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
- Interview: Jessica Sandoval of Unlock the Box on Solitary Confinement, by Ken Silverstein
- Prisoner Law Consultant in Michigan Pleads Guilty to Defrauding BOP, by David Reutter
- $5,400 Payout by Montana DOC Over Ex-Prisoner’s Claim of Religious, Gender Discrimination, by David Reutter
- Captain at Jail Where Epstein Died Offered New Position of Authority; Warden Remains on Desk Duty, by Kevin Bliss
- Seventh Circuit: Transfer of Indiana Prisoner Based on Substance of Grievances Not Retaliatory, by David Reutter
- $110,000 Settlement Reached in Ohio Prisoner’s Excessive Force Suit, by David Reutter
- Alabama DOC Report: Staff Beat, Hog-Tied, and Denied Medical Care to Fatally Injured Prisoner Seeking Help; Then Covered It Up, by Matthew Clarke
- New Study Documents Startling Spread of COVID-19 in American Prisons and Jails, by Sharon Dolovich, Brendan Saloner
- Commitment to New Jersey’s “Special Treatment Unit” a Potential Death Sentence, by Kevin Bliss
- Families Accuse Arkansas Prison of Poor Communication on COVID-19 Prisoners, by Kevin Bliss
- Coronavirus Shuts Down Ramen Soup Plant; Prisoners in Michigan Limited on Purchase Amounts, by Dale Chappell
- Sixth Circuit: Courts Must Construe Pro Se Notice of Appeal as Motion for Extension of Time to Appeal, by Dale Chappell
- Michigan Prisoner’s Malicious Prosecution Claim Survives Summary Judgment, by David Reutter
- Kansas Prison Dental Instructor Sentenced to 32 Months for Molesting Female Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Oregon Court Holds Prison Litigation Reform Act Exhaustion Tolls Statute of Limitations, by Mark Wilson
- Book Review: The Habeas Citebook: Prosecutorial Misconduct Is an Invaluable Resource for Challenging Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Dale Chappell
- Bad Behavior: Key to Getting Promoted for Alabama Prison Officials, by Dale Chappell
- San Quentin Had Zero COVID-19 Cases Until California Officials Sent Infected Prisoners, Triggered Wildfire, by Douglas Ankney
- Darren Rainey Died in Scalding Prison Shower Eight Years Ago Today, Still No Charges Filed, by Jessica Lipscomb
- Due to Steps Taken by New Mexico Officials, Only Sex Offenders Present When Prison Overwhelmed by COVID-19, by Matthew Clarke
- Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign Files Suit Seeking to Sever University’s Financial Ties With Prison Industrial Complex, by Douglas Ankney
- $135,000 Settles Sexual Orientation Discrimination Suit by Former Michigan Prison Guard, by Matthew Clarke
- Eleventh Circuit Holds Trafficking Victims Protection Act Applies to CoreCivic “Voluntary Work Program”, by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama Says It Will Reform Prisons, the Nation’s Deadliest, by Bill Barton
- New York: Prisoner Kills Himself After Brutal Beating by Guards, by Chad Marks
- COVID-19 Causes Public Defenders to Change How They Handle Cases, by Dale Chappell
- $140,000 Settlement in Ohio Jail Beating, Retaliation Case, by David Reutter
- Jury Award $700,000 to Maryland Prisoner Assaulted by Guards, by Chad Marks
- IRS Blocks Prisoners from CARES Stimulus Checks, by Derek Gilna
- Former Prisoners Are Running for Office In 2020, by Daniel A. Rosen
- Seventh Circuit: Totality of the Circumstances Must be Considered to Show “Policy or Custom” by Government Agency Caused Injury for Monell Claim, by Dale Chappell
- Jewish Michigan Prisoners Win Injunction for Religious Sabbath and Holiday Meals, by David Reutter
- $122,000 Payout as Utah Settles Suits Claiming Daggett County Jail Torture, by Dale Chappell
- Texas Prison System Bans Greetings Cards, Postcards, Colored Paper in Mail, by Matthew Clarke
- News in Brief
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Federal Court Grants HRDC Preliminary Injunction Against Mail Censorship at New Mexico Jail, May 1, 2026
- Faced with Record-Breaking Jail Deaths, L.A. County Supervisors Tell Sheriff’s Department to Improve Access to Naloxone, Camera Monitoring, and Security Checks at California Jail, May 1, 2026
- Federal Court Places Medical Care in Arizona Prisons Under Receivership, May 1, 2026
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Liability but Reverses Damages in Lawsuit Over Illinois Warden and Investigator Using Prisoner as Bait to Catch Staff Member Raping Her, May 1, 2026
- Texas Moves to Restrict Cashless Bond and Reverse Federal Court-Ordered Misdemeanor Bail Reform, May 1, 2026
- In Texas, Harris County Commissioners Approve $1.2 Million for Fourth Study of Jail Since 2020 After Dozens of Abuse Allegations, April 1, 2026
- Texas Attorney General Clarifies Scope of Statute Requiring Outside Agency Investigation of Jail Deaths, April 1, 2026
- D.C. Judge Blocks Transfer of Biden-Commuted Federal Death Row Prisoners to “Supermax,” Citing Lack of Meaningful Due Process, April 1, 2026
- Eighth Circuit Revives Lawsuit Over Iowa Jail Detainee’s Suicide, April 1, 2026
- Groundbreaking Statistical Study of Pregnant Texas Jail Detainees Finds Over 400 Monthly, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Illinois Jail Reprimanded for Denying Detainees Mail Based on Media Content, P.O. Box Return Address, Settles Detainees’ Suit with $111,825 Payment of Legal Fees, May 1, 2026. Publications/Books, Mail Regulations, Censorship, First Amendment, rights, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
- Like Prisoners, Most Jail Detainees Now Banned from Receiving Physical Mail, March 1, 2026. Jail Specific, Mail Regulations, Legal Mail, Censorship, Digital Devices, Private Phone Contractors.
- Mail Went Digital in Alabama Prisons. Families Are Saying Their Mail Isn’t Being Delivered, March 1, 2026. Mail Regulations, Legal Mail, First Amendment, rights, Access To Courts, Access to Computers.
- Number of Narcan Doses Raises Drug Concerns at New Jersey Prisons, March 1, 2026. Drug Overdose, Mail Regulations, Drug Treatment/Rehab, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Most U.S. Prisoners Now Barred from Directly Receiving Physical Mail, Feb. 1, 2026. Mail Regulations, Due Process, Legal Mail, Censorship, Warrantless Searches, Electronic Surveillance.
- United States Postal Service Declares Postmarks Could Be Delayed, Feb. 1, 2026. Mail Regulations, Due Process, Legal Mail, Access To Courts.
- No Opened Envelopes: Hawai’i Prisons Get New Mail Scanning Technology, April 1, 2025. Mail Regulations, Police State-Surveillance, Antipsychotic Drugs/Forced Medication, Drug Laws/Offenses.
- Pigeonly Flies Into Telecom Turbulence, Declares Bankruptcy, Jan. 15, 2025. Bankruptcy, Mail Regulations, Private Phone Contractors.
- Push to Digitize Rikers Island Mail Based on Faulty Drug Tests, Jan. 15, 2025. Drug Testing, Mail Regulations, Mail/Packages.
- Minnesota Prisoners Getting Scanned Mail, Kept Waiting 18 Months for Tablets, Jan. 15, 2025. Mechanical Searches/Scanners, Mail Regulations, Emails.

