An inmate at Kinross Correctional Facility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is claiming that his first amendment rights were violated after prison guards intercepted pornography that was sent to him. John Alexander, who is serving a life sentence for second-degree fleeing from a police officer, is seeking $60,000 from the Michigan Department of Corrections. Alexander’s friends had sent him issues of Foreplay Magazine as a birthday gift, as the magazine specializes in prison entertainment. Attorney Todd Perkins, while not directly involved in the case, commented on the unique lawsuit, stating that similar cases have been successfully litigated in the past. Alexander hopes to turn his suit into a class action case and is recruiting fellow inmates to join him in arguing that his first amendment rights were violated. However, there has only been one other lawsuit relating to prisoners and pornography, which was dismissed in the federal system. The prison guards likely intercepted the magazines because of concerns that they may depict sexual violence, which could incite a security issue. The Michigan Department of Corrections declined to comment on the case. The lawsuit is one of the few examples of similar litigation being filed, and Attorney Todd Perkins will be discussing the case with FOX 2’s Jessica Dupnack at 5:30 p.m.
Prisoner Files Lawsuit Against Michigan Department of Corrections Over Guards Intercepting Pornography
