Attorneys at the Florida Justice Institute have successfully persuaded the Florida Department of Corrections to withdraw a proposed rule that would have prohibited inmates from having third parties post anything on the Internet. After the FDOC proposed the rule, FJI quickly sent a letter, signed by the Florida Institutional Legal Services Project of Florida Legal Services and the ACLU of Florida, strongly opposing the proposed rule on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment, and prevents inmates from maintaining important ties to their community. The FDOC then withdrew the proposed rule, tabling the issue for the time being. FJI will continue to monitor the FDOC’s proposed rule to ensure that it does not attempt to severely restrict the First Amendment rights of inmates and their loved ones.
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