9th Cir. lets prisoners get books, rejects "encrypted" claim

Declan McCullagh declan at well.com
Wed Nov 19 12:17:50 PST 2003


TODD LEWIS ASHKER, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF 
CORRECTIONS; JAMES GOMEZ; G. BONNIE GARIBAY; S. BONACCORSO; M. JENSEN; S. 
CAMBRA; S. STEINBERG, M.D.; WINSLOW; DR. ASTORGA; C. GOLLIHAR; S. RICCI, 
M.T.A.; K. BUTCHER; B. PATTON; M. BILLINGTON; B. GRINSTEAD; JOE MCGRATH, 
Warden, Defendants-Appellants.

No. 02-17077

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

October 7, 2003, Argued and Submitted, San Francisco, California
November 18, 2003, Filed

PRIOR HISTORY:  [*1]  Appeal from the United States District Court for the 
Northern District of California. D.C. No. CV 97-1109 CW. Claudia Wilken, 
District Judge, Presiding.

...

OPINION:

TASHIMA, Circuit Judge:

Defendants-Appellants, the California Department of Corrections and various 
prison officials (collectively, "CDC"), appeal an order of the district 
court granting summary judgment in favor of Plaintiff-Appellee, Todd Lewis 
Ashker, and issuing a permanent injunction against CDC. Ashker, a state 
prisoner housed in the Security Housing Unit ("SHU") at Pelican Bay State 
Prison ("PBSP"), challenged a prison policy requiring books and magazines 
mailed to the prison to have an approved vendor label affixed to [*2]  the 
package. In a published opinion, the district court granted summary 
judgment in favor of Ashker because the policy unreasonably burdened 
Ashker's 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=4&_butStat=0&_butNum=1&_butInline=1&_butinfo=U.S.%20CONST.%20AMEND.%201&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=de99423f98b5aa1744cf125b0d22c6ad>First 
Amendment rights and was not rationally related to a legitimate penological 
objective. 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=2&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201262%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=5b9b687b8c1b100dc1b695d8569a2ba1>Ashker 
v. Cal. Dep't of 
Corr.<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=2&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201262%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=5b9b687b8c1b100dc1b695d8569a2ba1>, 
224 F. Supp. 2d 1253, 1262 (N.D. Cal. 2002). The court further held that 
Ashker was entitled to injunctive relief and issued a permanent injunction 
enjoining PBSP from enforcing the book label requirement. 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=3&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201263%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=9f5f455207db9b2772aade2a200c3195>Id.<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=3&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201263%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=9f5f455207db9b2772aade2a200c3195> 
at 1263-64. Our jurisdiction is pursuant to 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=4&_butStat=0&_butNum=4&_butInline=1&_butinfo=28%20U.S.C.%201291&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=f941391ebedded53bac2138d046ec933>28 
U.S.C. '' 
1291<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=4&_butStat=0&_butNum=5&_butInline=1&_butinfo=28%20U.S.C.%201292&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=c3cc63ad063335ed2a971d28c7ed9da4> 
and 1292(a). n1 We affirm.

...

Glen Rodman, a sergeant at PBSP in Receiving and Release ("R&R"), explained 
that the majority of SHU inmates are involved in gang activity and are 
therefore likely to receive contraband in the mail, such as books 
containing drugs or encrypted with gang messages. All items received by 
PBSP are inspected for contraband and may further be inspected by a 
fluoroscope machine. Because such machines cannot detect encrypted 
material, the book label requirement is an additional security measure 
designed "to help ensure that reading material comes directly from the 
vendor, as opposed to passing through an unknown third party." According to 
Rodman, "an additional purpose served by the book label requirement is to 
reduce the amount of material that is required to be individually screened 
by" the three R&R staff members who are responsible for tracking the mail, 
searching it for contraband, and delivering approved materials to inmates.

...

We agree with the district court that the evidence submitted by both Ashker 
and CDC "refutes any common-sense connection between the book label policy 
and PBSP's legitimate goals of ensuring against contraband and providing 
prison safety." 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=39&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201260%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=fbf61b398bf29bb01fa874f79dc43c16>Ashker<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=39&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201260%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=fbf61b398bf29bb01fa874f79dc43c16>, 
224 F. Supp. 2d at 1260. When the inmate presents such evidence, the state 
is required to "'present enough counter-evidence to show that the 
connection is not so remote as to render the policy arbitrary or 
irrational.'" 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=40&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b238%20F.3d%201145%2cat%201150%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=71700d10b8dea8d7772e45ac0eac0de9>Prison 
Legal 
News<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=40&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b238%20F.3d%201145%2cat%201150%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=71700d10b8dea8d7772e45ac0eac0de9>, 
238 F.3d at 1150 (quoting 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=41&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b197%20F.3d%20348%2cat%20357%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=ea87db13e6a4b553082576e69f0ba503>Frost<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=41&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b197%20F.3d%20348%2cat%20357%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=ea87db13e6a4b553082576e69f0ba503>, 
197 F.3d at 357). CDC has failed to do so.

First, CDC already [*12]  requires that books be sent directly from 
approved vendors. As the district court reasoned, prison staff can easily 
determine whether packages have been sent directly by vendors or have been 
sent to a third party first by checking address labels and invoices. See 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=42&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201261%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=35729e29db57ecd3370dae43472c8630>Ashker<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=42&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201261%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=35729e29db57ecd3370dae43472c8630>, 
224 F. Supp. 2d at 1261. If the package had been sent to a third party, who 
then sent the package to the prisoner, the vendor's address label and 
invoice would indicate that fact. Requiring R&R staff to check the address 
label seems no more burdensome than requiring them to check for the vendor 
label and the vendor stamp in the appropriate box on the label. CDC has 
presented no evidence or argument to refute this reasoning.

Second, all personal property received by inmates in the mail is searched 
prior to delivery. CDC contends that these searches are not always 
effective, pointing out that contraband has been missed due to human error. 
However, "CDC [has] articulated no scenario in which the book label policy 
provides a measure of security not afforded by these routine and mandatory 
searches." 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=43&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=90ffc68b59ab8f8e28f4d807625081f0>Id. 
CDC further argues that the fluoroscope machine does not detect weapons or 
encrypted messages.  [*13]  That the lack of a book label can act as a sort 
of "red flag," alerting prison staff to books sent by non-vendors when 
their routine search may have missed this fact may be a legitimate concern, 
but it is a concern that is quite lacking in substantial evidentiary 
support. The district court pointed out that Sergeant Rodman "provided 
absolutely no specific facts regarding the alleged incident" in which drugs 
escaped the detection of the fluoroscope machine, id., and, on appeal, CDC 
has pointed to no evidence in the record regarding the efficacy of the book 
label policy.

Finally, at least with respect to contraband, there is no rational basis 
for CDC to impose an approved vendor label requirement on books, but not on 
tennis shoes, thermal clothing, or appliances. CDC has made no effort to 
explain why books are more susceptible to being used to deliver contraband 
than other items. "Common sense would dictate that PBSP's concern would 
extend to such items." 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=44&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201262%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=1f56c18a11265f9d33f8f1808dfb5974>Id.<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=44&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b224%20F.%20Supp.%202d%201253%2cat%201262%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=1f56c18a11265f9d33f8f1808dfb5974> 
at 1262. Because the book label policy fails the first Turner factor, we do 
not address the other factors. n4 
<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=45&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b261%20F.3d%20896%2cat%20901%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=9d2055e9ce7792e2c9e106e7e7d92dd1>Morrison<http://www.lexis.com/research//research/buttonTFLink?_m=f301d9b0bbfb87b562632ca03cc7bc4f&_xfercite=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b2003%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2023445%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_butType=3&_butStat=2&_butNum=45&_butInline=1&_butinfo=%3ccite%20cc%3d%22USA%22%3e%3c%21%5bCDATA%5b261%20F.3d%20896%2cat%20901%5d%5d%3e%3c%2fcite%3e&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkAA&_md5=9d2055e9ce7792e2c9e106e7e7d92dd1>, 
261 F.3d at 901.





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