Mountain Home, AR. – The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas recently issued a Bench Trial Opinion and Order and Judgment in the case of Human Rights Defense Center v. Baxter County, Arkansas,
Case # 3:17-CV-3070. Those filings can be viewed here. (Judgement)
In short, the court will allow Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) to mail Prison Legal News and Habeas Citebook to inmates in the Baxter County Detention Center (BCDC). BCDC had a postcard-only policy in 2017 and the court declared this to be unconstitutionally broad.
Additionally, HRDC was awarded damages of $1 for violation of its First Amendment rights.
Baxter County has filed an appeal in the case and has requested a stay.
The BCDC’s mail policies are currently under review and will be revised. Once revision of the policies has been completed, those will be posted on the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office Website. In the interim, Baxter County will comply with the Courts’ orders regarding mail from HRDC.
