HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania state prisons are about to be hit with a lawsuit over ramped-up security measures, Channel 11 News has learned.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union’s legal director, the organization plans to file the lawsuit within the next two weeks.
New security measures were introduced in September amid a 12-day lockdown at all state prisons. The lockdown was prompted by drug exposures that sickened multiple employees and inmates, according to the Department of Corrections.
Among the changes were new mail procedures -- which will be challenged by the lawsuit.
Legal mail can be sent directly to prisons, but original documents are opened and copied by prison staff wearing protective equipment.
STORY: New safety, security measures for state prisons after workers sickened
While inmates can watch the process, the ACLU says it inhibits confidentiality and is therefore unconstitutional.
“We've spoken not only to prisoners, but a number of lawyers who say they simply do not feel comfortable using the mail to transmit any kind of privileged communications,” Pennsylvania ACLU legal director Vic Walczak said.
Walczak said he has met with the DOC, but its legal team is not bending.
Channel 11 reached out to a DOC spokesperson for comment, but they said they were not told about the lawsuit and will not comment right now.
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