an and cannot view on our own computers. There is a substantiated correlation between inmates maintaining contact with the outside world and reducing recidivism. Why, then, is Florida intent on silencing its population of incarcerated men and women?

As a society, are we to turn our backs on the prison population? The majority of these men and women will be rejoining us one day. Are we to be denied our part in helping to return them to society as restored and better people?

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech. Does this exclude inmates, concerned citizens who wish to correspond with inmates, and organizations like ours who seek to reduce recidivism?

California and Arizona judges didn't think so and ruled against the Department of Corrections when the same rule was introduced there.

We must prevent this rule from taking effect! Please, share this with your visitors TODAY.

Please write the governor today and protest Department of Correction's Proposed Rule 33-210.101 Section (8):

E-mail the governor:

Jeb Bush jeb.bush@myflorida.com

fl_governor@eog.state.fl.us

jeb.bush@florida.com

jeb.bush@myflorida.com

jeb@gulf1.com

A follow up letter should also be sent here:

Governor Jeb Bush

PL 05 The Capitol

400 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

You can also request copies of the rule directly from the Governor's office.

For more information regarding this rule, please visit: http://www.writeaprisoner.com/florida-doc.htm .

Please, let your visitors know about this unconstitutional and cruel proposal. These men and women need positive influences in their lives.

Dostoevsky said it best: "A society should be judged not by how it treats its outstanding citizens but by how it treats its criminals." We need to do better as a society. Write today to preserve the First Amendment.

We will keep everyone updated as the story unfolds.

Sincerely, WriteAPrisoner.com contact@WriteAPrisoner.com

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INFORMATION FROM ACLU

David Fathi at the ACLU (our lawyer for our fight with AZ over the same thing - if you wish more info on what happened with that visit http://www.ccadp.org/arizona.htm ). Below is his email to me and info he rec'd on Florida situation from his counterpart there.

Tracy,

ccadp@rogers.com CCADP http://www.ccadp.org

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Dear Friends,

Below is an update from Randy Berg, the lawyer in Florida who is following this issue for us. As you can see, the rule is not yet effective, and there is still one more chance to kill it.

David C. Fathi dfathi@npp-aclu.org Staff Counsel ACLU National Prison Project http://www.ccadp.org/arizona.htm

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Monday, April 14, 2003

Florida prison pen-pal rule--

The FL DOC decided to not hold a rule development workshop. Instead, they issued the proposed rule. Rule not effective until after the hearing. No date on that.

"Randall C. Berg, Jr."

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