A federal district judge ruled that prison authorities at Pelican Bay State Prison had violated the First Amendment rights of an inmate who wanted to mail a manuscript with sections of his autobiography. The authorities claimed that the manuscript referred to ongoing gang activity and could provoke violence or promote gang activity.
The judge pointed out that since the authorities had not provided a copy of the manuscript, they had not met the burden of proof. -db
From an analysis for the First Amendment Center, October 5, 2011, by David L. Hudson Jr.