ALL AMAZON PRODUCTS FORBIDDEN FROM IDAHO STATE CORRECTIONAL CENTER

In an April, 2021 memo from the Chief of Prisons at the Idaho Department of Correction, staff and prisoners were notified that incoming books were no longer allowed to be sourced from Amazon (amongst other popular vendors), and that prisoners are allowed only to receive books either from a small number of named vendors - or directly from the publisher. (* See full content of memo below.)

In the memo, Prison Chief Chad Page stated his reasoning for the new restrictions was that contraband was being introduced into the prison system via books purchased through such vendors as Amazon Marketplace and Barnes and Noble. Page went on to name companies from which prisoners and their family/friends are authorized to order books - most of which sell used books.

Chad Pages' stated rationale in disallowing books ordered from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Prison Legal News or other such sources - even new books - lacks any justification or merit. Most of the vendors now authorized sell used books - in the exact same manner - as are sold through Amazon Marketplace. Additionally, though Amazon publishes and sells new books in their own right (some through Amazon Publishing or other titles), prisoners are not allowed to order even these books - despite being directly from the publisher.

To make matters even worse, property staff at the ISCC have taken it upon themselves to (mis)interpret the memo and have extended the restrictions from only books (as cited in the memo) to include calendars, photographs, or any other item - unless sourced from vendors authorized in the memo. (An inmate recently ordered a 2022 calendar from one such source and received a used calendar that contained personal information written by the previous owner from January through April, 2021, including birthdays, telephone numbers and menstrual cycle dates.)

Family and friends who electronically send photos files to Walmart for printing and mailing directly to ISCC prisoners are dismayed to learn that even their holiday photos have been confiscated by property staff under the guise of following the directives of the memo. Chad Page has yet to address these overreaching confiscations.

While courts have upheld authorized vendor lists for books in the past, administrators must have a valid "penological interest" when implementing them [FN 1]. In this case, disallowing books from some vendors because of "third party access", while allowing books from other vendors (or ministries) who sell books with the same third-party access "issue" cannot be justified.

Books from local book stores, library sales, even bibles have been swept up in the Chiefs' unilateral decision to ban vendors. If there is a legitimate security concern, it can be dealt with in the same manner as has been dealt with for the last 20 years. Barring that, here's how to fix it:

Allow prisoners to purchase current eBooks, eMagazine subscriptions and ePhotos - at a REASONABLE price.

Require JPay to correct recurring systemic issues with tablets.

Get prisoner emails, attachments and videos in and out in a REASONABLE time as compared to postal mail. (You spend hundreds of staff hours each DAY sitting around looking for nipples in photos then whine about staff shortages).

Let's leap into the 1990's. It wasn't too long ago that the IDOC banned television remote controls simply because old guard administrators, not understanding technology, believed they could be used to open cell doors. I know... when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail (and sometimes it is a nail) but some things are glass. Why not devote what you argue are limited resources (staff) to those things that are actually in need of staff intervention and supervision, and realize that trying to maintain too much control often leads to the total loss of it.

Oh, and if you are upset that Amazon didn't get your order shipped to you in time, don't take it out on us.

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[FN 1] See the United States Supreme Court decision in TURNER v. SAFLEY, 482 U.S. 78, 107 S.Ct. 2254 (1987) for more information on the need for legitimate penological interest in prison administrative actions and decisions.

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* DATE : April 30, 2021

TO: Offender Population
FROM : Chad Page, Chief of Prisons
SUBJECT: Approved Vendors for Books


Due to places such as Amazon Marketplace, Bargain Books Store, and Barnes and Noble allowing 3rd parties to have access to incoming books, we have seen a large increase in contraband.

Starting June 1, 2021, all Books and Magazines must come from one of the approved vendors listed below, or directly from the publisher.

This notice will allow you 30 days (April 30th through May 31st) to notify your family of these changes. After May 31st, all incoming books from outside these vendors, or that does not contain a receipt or invoice, will be returned to sender in accordance with SOP 402.02.01.001 Mail Handling in Correctional Facilities, Section 18.

> Edward R Hamilton
> Thrift Books
> Discover Books
> More than Words
> Prison Book Program
> Books to Prisoners

Also, if you have books sent in through a religious ministry , the ministry must be listed as the publisher on the book.