Inmates in restrictive federal prison units sue for more contact with family and friends
By APTuesday, March 30, 2010
Prisoners sue over restrictions on outside contact
WASHINGTON — Inmates in a highly restrictive prison program are suing their jailers, arguing they aren’t allowed to communicate as frequently with families and friends as other federal prisoners.
The Center for Constitutional Rights took the case to federal court on Tuesday. The center says the Communications Management Units in Terre Haute, Ind., and Marion, Ill., violate federal law and the Constitution.
Lawyers for the inmates say there are 60 to 70 prisoners in the program, most of them Muslim. Some have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes.
Prisoners in the special units are allowed eight hours of visiting time per month. The lawyers say the limit for others in the prison system is based on available visiting hours and chronic overcrowding.
