Jail officials defend tighter rules about mail

MOUNT CLEMENS (AP) -- Officials at a jail in suburban Detroit are defending the facility's tighter rules about what kind of mail is allowed to get to inmates. The Detroit Free Press reports the Macomb County Jail changed its mail policy in mid-August to cut down on contraband and reduce the time it took officers to screen and redact each mailing and publication. Personal mail is restricted to 5-inch by 7-inch postcards. Magazine subscriptions are restricted to a list of 12 titles coming directly from publishers. No changes were made to mail regarding legal matters. Three former inmates sued in federal court, saying the restrictions violate their civil rights. The county is seeking to have the case dismissed. Similar postcard-only policies at some other Michigan jails also have faced questions about their legality. Published: Wed, Mar 5, 2014