VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OPERATING PROCEDURE "INCOMING PUBLICATIONS" CONCERNING FOREIGN LANGUAGE

When prisoners and families are faced with questions as it concerns the Virginia Department of Corrections [VADOC] the only approach is to refer to the VADOC Operating Procedures first, secondly visiting the relevant policy, from there this is the guidelines for which prisoners will follow to file his/her complaints and grievances. We at vapac [Virginia Prisons Accountability Committee] will be periodically sharing policy and procedure on our site.

Correctional agencies must deliver clear and brief composed mandates for staff, prisoners, and the community. Given the issues of authoritative risk, accreditation benchmarks, case law, and the need to help proficient conduct, written policy and procedure is a requisite.

Prisoner family and friends should go on the VADOC website and familiarize yourselves with the policy and procedure so you can understand what prison guards are SUPPOSE to do.

Recently vapac received a concern from a prisoner family member pertaining to "incoming mail and publications as it pertains to foreign language" sharing their concern stating "just because somethings in a different language and they can't read it, doesn't mean that the inmate shouldn't get it! What do they do for the non-English speakers?" Unfortunately, as it pertains to "publications" policy considers and states "Publications that are written or communicated in languages other than English or Spanish that cannot be readily translated and reviewed for content pose an overriding security concern for the DOC." (note~see page 8 of 10).

We are highlighting this issue in hopes it will be of some help to other prisoners and their loved ones. Again every one familiarize yourself with VADOC policy and procedure as this is ammo to battle a war we more often than not find ourselves in the middle of.




By  Dee
vapac

Reference

Virginia Department of Corrections Procedures

803.2

Incoming Publications