Man Wins Challenge of Va. Policy Limiting Inmates' Music Choices

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Posted: 10:34 AM Feb 8, 2012 Man Wins Challenge of Va. Policy Limiting Inmates' Music Choices RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A federal judge has ruled in favor of a Louisiana man who challenged a Virginia prison system policy that restricts the kind of CDs inmates can have. Email Address: news@newsplex.com

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February 8, 2012

A federal judge has ruled in favor of a Louisiana man who challenged a Virginia prison system policy that restricts the kind of CDs inmates can have.

U.S. District Judge James Spencer in Richmond granted a motion by Owen North of LeCompte, La., for summary judgment Tuesday.

At issue was a policy allowing inmates to have only approved music and faith-based spoken-word CDs, such as religious sermons. The policy prevented North from giving a Virginia inmate a spoken-word CD by writer Dylan Thomas as a Christmas gift.

Spencer ruled the policy violated North's First Amendment right of expression.

Prison officials claimed the restrictions served a valid government interest.

North filed a federal lawsuit last April. His friend, Shawn Goode, was a prisoner at Nottoway Correctional Center.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Humanity on Feb 8, 2012 at 03:03 PM

These prisoners are not animals they are human beings what do u care whats they want too listen too? They are in prison serving tha time paynfor whatever theve done!!

Posted by: Hmmm on Feb 8, 2012 at 10:42 AM

Man... these prisoners sure want a lot these days. I think they are forgetting that they are in a prison, they aren't at home.

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