‘Letters are the lifeline’: Families plead for Florida prisons to retain physical mail

For four hours Friday during sometimes emotional testimony, Florida Department of Corrections officials faced a barrage of concern and questions about its plan to digitize all incoming prison mail and provide it to incarcerated people on tablets.

“For my husband, personally, physical pictures are what keep him motivated, they are what keep him going day to day,” one woman pleaded to FDC officials during the virtual hearing.

“Our letters are the lifeline for our loved ones,” another said.

Some people broke down in tears as they gave their testimony about the proposed rule change, which would also limit the number of pages someone can mail in and extending how long prison staff have to provide mail, arguing that family photos, children’s drawings love letters and birthday cards just won’t be the same viewed on a pixelated screen instead of in hand. The mail could be printed out, but for a fee.

Every one of the dozens who spoke Friday — though some never got their chance to talk after the meeting was cut off at 5 p.m. — opposed the rule change.

“We cannot continue to condition people behind bars to have no emotional connection.”

“It will destroy human spirits and families.”

“Handwritten letters are our hug, our touch.”

The change is supposed to improve security and contraband that comes through mail, including drugs that could harm someone who touches them, according to FDC Assistant Secretary Richard Comerford.

He said the agency received 35,000 pieces of contraband through routine mail in the last two years, but was unable to provide the total amount of mail received to put that number in context or a breakdown of the contraband included. He did later clarify the 35,000 amount was only related to drugs or weapons, and not other contraband like nude photos or the over 200,000 banned books.

He also said there have been deaths and injuries related to illegal substances, which were “suspected to have been received” through routine mail, but it was unclear if any had been linked directly to mail, and while he said he would take note of the concerns presented, he said the mail change is “based off of safety,” for both incarcerated people and staff.

The hearing Friday brought opposition not only from families and friends with loved ones in Florida prisons, but from federal public defenders, the Americans for Prosperity, a libertarian-conservative-leaning political advocacy group and churches and ministries across the state, which often mails in packets of information for rehabilitation or spiritual programs that would become limited under the new rule.

“It is vital to ensure that his or her experience [in prison] is not only punitive but restorative,” said Starla Brown, the Florida director for Americans for Prosperity. “While we understand the concerns of the DOC we hope you will not overlook the [benefit] of receiving mail in its original form.”

Two attorneys with the federal public defender’s office for the Northern Florida District also opposed the rule, concerned about what might happen if there’s a security breach to the network storing the scanned mail, as well as potential constitutional issues, noting the Supreme Court has found changes to prisons must not be “arbitrary or irrational,” which attorney Raymond Denecke said applies to this rule change because the threat to security remains a fraction of total mail.

Many families asked the agency to consider not only the importance of familial and outside connections for people in prison, but also logistical issues like what happens if tablets are broken or unable to charge — which is a frequent problem. Not only that, families or friends can no longer send blank cards or pre-addressed envelopes for people to send out, because they will only receive digital copies, which will cost 25 cents per page, or $1 for a color page, to print.

“A picture on a screen could never replace a handmade card,” a man who used to be incarcerated told officials. “The reasons against outweigh the minimal benefit of perceived security.”

Many families asked the agency to focus security efforts on staff bringing in contraband, which they believe is a bigger problem than mail, and called it immoral to have families pay to send in photos or letters, then have them shredded in a facility if they don’t pay extra to have the contents mailed back.

“I want you to imagine never touching a handmade item by your child or grandchild again,” said Amy McCourt, who has a loved one in prison. “I know you have to know what I mean when I say there’s a difference.”

gtoohey@orlandosentinel.com