The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-03-17
PRISONS and
PRISONERS
Nv Clifford c. Mitchell
BY Clifford C. Mitchell

| In the February ZUh issue oil
Black Masses. Stanley Burnshaw
has an article, We're Back in
Sing Sing" which describes for
inner boycott of New Masses into
Sing Sing and how the obstacles
were overcome. In that particular
incident one particular prisoner
had friends who sent certain books
and magazines. including New
Masses. but which the prison CEN
sor refused delivery to the pris-
oner. Friends and publishers. in
GLIDING the New Masses, took the
matter up, privately and publicly.
with the result that Warden Lawes
has lifted the ban on New Masses
as far as that particular prisoner
is concerned but not for general
circulation within the prison be-
cause of possible incitement that
might be stirred up on account OF
some of the cartoons, etc.
This problem OF censorship OF
reading matter for prison inmates
is peculiar line and because l
have observed a great deal of il
in nearly seventeen years of pris
on service. II might interest the
readers to relate some expert
ences at this time.
Uusually the censorship on
reading matter is as narrow or as
broad as is the man who happens
to be Chaplain at the prison. or
course, the Warden Is the actual
man responsible but he usually
leaves such things to the Chaplain
and invariably backs the Chaplain
up In whatever decision he might
make.
And chapiains come and go In
prisons. almost az rapidly as do
| tho inmates. And some Chaplains
have looked frowningly on any
form OF reading material that was
not strictly religious and then ac-
cOrdlng To his own personal re-
ligious faith.
Many years ago have seen the
ban placed on nearly every one OF
our own colored papers. Some
times one and sometimes another,
all because some particular arti-
Gle got to the attention of the
Chaplain and he would decide that
such q paper containing such ar
ticles would lead to race riots or
stir up other trouble among the
inmates and the ban would be
placed on that particular publica-
ton. This ban in some instances
has lasted permanently but In the
majority of instances the next year
would bring a new Chaplain or the
matter might have been forgotten
or a resentment of the order be
made, and the publication would
start coming in again.
During my last four years In
prison / received hundreds OF
newspapers, scores of magazines,
and hundreds of books. No ban
was placed on any OF the news
papers l received. although there
was a ban on permitting other
prisoners to subscribe to some OF
the newspapers. There was ban
on quite few of the magazines !
received and in some instances the
| copy received, including New
Masses, was about the only one In
the prison. On the books there
was strict censorship. Some
books were not permitted TO reach
me and were returned to the pub
fishers. In some instances, the
publishers took the matter uT
personally with the prison officials
to permit me TO read their book sc
could make a book comment OF
same. After this was done prac
tically all books were allowed tC
come to me but at least in n dozer
instances when the book wa.
given to me there was verbal OF
written request that ! not lend thu
book to any other prisoner.
Some OF these bans are place,
purely from a prejudicial view
point. not particularly for wha
the publication has said or done
but what might occur, and, q
course. prisons are careful Il
eliminate all things that might AT
feet an inmates mind TO the pOin
Ut distorting 70. Some bans ar
placed because of a very definit
publication OF certain facts. dog
ma, or for general political o
social reasons. And. OF cours,
2 many bans are placed because &
y the obsceneness and lewdnes
found in some publications. Bu
i. such bans do exist and there
hardly a prison in the country b
what maintains bans on man
publications.