Prison Legal News sues to get into Michigan jail

HOWELL (AP) -- A monthly journal about prisons is being locked out of the Livingston County jail. Prison Legal News is suing the county and Sheriff Robert Bezotte claiming its free-speech rights are being violated because authorities won't distribute the publication to inmates. Most regular mail at the Livingston County jail is restricted to postcards. West Brattleboro, Vt.-based Prison Legal News says it has more than 7,000 subscribers, including lawyers and judges. It reports stories about inmate rights and prison conditions. The August edition has a story about tax fraud committed in prisons. A message seeking comment was left for the sheriff Wednesday. The jail is in Howell, 40 miles east of Lansing. Published: Fri, Aug 12, 2011