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Post by anokacomel on Apr 3, 2023 15:50:12 GMT
What is your county policy is on Urban Fiction novels. Are their inmates allowed to order them into the facility and access them? We currently do not allow these books to be distributed in our facility. In my brief encounters with them they are highly graphic, gang culture, high drug use, and fairly sexually explicit. I will be the first to admit I am not much of a reader, but the counter argument is being made that books like Sanford, Patterson, and Connelly contain similar content.
Any information is good information. If you are allowing these titles by KWan, or Ashley and Jacquavis let me know. If your facilities do not allow them, please let me know and the rationale behind those decisions.
Drew Szyszkowski
Mower County Jail
Inmate Programs and Services Coordinator
(O) 507-434-2718
(F) 507-437-9563
(E) drews@co.mower.mn.us
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Post by Miranda Neuwirth on Apr 3, 2023 15:58:28 GMT
We used to not allow these either, but inmates said the same that other books could be similar in content, these are just worded differently. We decided to let these in as inmates had complained as well so we ended up allowing. All books that come in have to be sent in directly from the bookstore or publisher and the inmate has to be willing to donate them upon their release. When we get these in after the inmate leaves, we typically keep them in our office and if someone requests one then we will get them to them. I agree these can be much more explicit than others so we will give out when asked. Was much easier to deal with this way for us. Thanks!
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Post by anokacomel on Apr 3, 2023 19:53:01 GMT
Freeborn County - Our Jail Administrator does NOT like to ban books. We will not allow anything with graphic illustrations/photos and do not allow Robert Greene books. The reasoning for the ban of Robert Greene books ( The 48 Laws of Power, The 5oth Law, etc.) is that we do not want to promote the learning of manipulation of staff or the courts. Other than that we take it on a case by case determination. All books must come through the Programmer to be approved. If the programmer feels there is an issue with it being allowed, it is brought to the Jail Administrator for approval. The above mentioned books and graphicly illustrated anime novels are the only ones that have been denied in the 6 years I have worked here. Houston County - Similarly we do not outright ban books but they are approved by Admin on a case-by-case basis. Douglas County - We do the same. All books go through programs. We do not allow Robert Greene books either. We also don’t allow ultra-violent or ultra sexual/graphic romance novels. Otherwise we do not ban books such as Sanford, Patterson, etc. Scott County also does a case-by-case basis.
Anoka County - The only books we have not let in have had graphic illustrations (mainly nudity). Never had it happen but we do not allow: Instructions on the manufacturing of homemade weapons, bombs, explosives or escape materials; Instructions on the manufacturing of alcoholic beverages; Instructions on how to defeat locks and restraint devices.
St Louis County - We only censor sexual content with violence (if we catch it, sexual content, and we also have banned the Robert Greene books. We do not censor the Urban books.
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