Opinion ID: 77923
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: DOC's Mail Policy

Text: The DOC policy known as SOP IIB04-0001 provides certain mail privileges to inmates at Georgia prisons. Specifically, SOP IIB04-0001 provides that correspondence between inmates and their attorneys is privileged mail. An inmate's attorney includes any attorney with whom the inmate has had, or is attempting to establish, an attorney client relationship and who is licensed to practice in state or federal courts. The policy provides for external inspection of privileged mail by fluoroscope, metal detecting device, or manual inspection for the purpose of detecting contraband. [3] Following an external inspection, an appropriately designated staff member may open and inspect (but not read) all privileged mail in the presence of the inmate/probationer to whom it is addressed. Thus, under DOC's own policy, GSP may not read Al-Amin's attorney mail and may open it only in his presence. [4]