Jail claims publication has no right to send unsolicited mail

HOWELL (AP) -- Livingston County is defending a tough policy that allows only postcards at the jail. The southeastern Michigan county and Sheriff Robert Bezotte are being sued by a Vermont-based publication that wants to send its monthly Prison Legal News to jail inmates. Livingston County says the West Brattleboro, Vt.-based journal Prison Legal News doesn't have a constitutional right to send unsolicited mail. The county also says it has a right to set its own policies. The jail allows only postcards in outgoing and incoming mail. The policy led to a lawsuit in federal court in Detroit. Muskegon County had a similar rule but recently said inmates can send mail in envelopes. Published: Mon, Sep 12, 2011