"Department of Corrections moves to digitize all mail addressed to the estimated 80,000 people incarcerated in state prisons. Exceptions are legal mail, privileged mail and publications.

What’s more, families will no longer be allowed to send stamps and greeting cards to loved ones in prison for them to use sending out their own correspondence; Families will no longer be allowed to send stamps and greeting cards to loved ones in prison for them to use sending out their own correspondence." (from The Tampa Bay Times)

For many of the incarcerated mail is their primary connection to the outside world. This is being done under the guise of restricting contraband. There is no proof that banning mail will make a difference. Mail will be scanned and digitized. Inmates and family members will be forced to use email,which is a service that must be paid for. What this ban will do is further isolate inmates from family and loved ones. These new rules will continue to discriminate against the economically disadvantaged who don't have access to the internet or have the income to support consistent email correspondence. This rule isn't to prevent contraband but to create another way to monetize a component of the industrial prison complex.

Please sign this petition to send a message to State of Florida representatives and the Florida Department of Corrections that this is unacceptable for inmates and their loved ones.