Judge rules against San Diego County jail postcard rule

 

SAN DIEGO --

A federal judge says a postcard-only rule for San Diego County jail inmates is a dead letter.

U-T San Diego says a federal judge ruled Thursday that a jail policy barring personal mail in envelopes is unconstitutional. He issued a preliminary injunction ordering the policy suspended by May 21.

The Sheriff's Department adopted the policy three years ago to reduce the amount of drugs and other contraband being smuggled into the jail. Inmates were allowed to receive postcards, magazines, small books and short emails - but nothing in an envelope.

The judge sided with a monthly journal, Prison Legal News, which argued the ban prevented its distribution and violated its constitutional rights.