RIDOC responds to ACLU lawsuit accusing confidentiality violations

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Corrections sent a statement responding to the ACLU of Rhode Island’s lawsuit against the department accusing it of violating the rights of prisoners and attorneys.

The suit claimed that the Adult Correctional Institutions has interfered with the process of prisoners and lawyers sharing information in a confidential manner, and accused staff of taking written communications between prisoners and attorneys and inspecting and copying them.

Chief of Information and Public Relations J.R. Ventura said that the department “takes attorney-client privileges very seriously,” but the department has a policy that allows staff to search correspondences.

“The approved policy states that we can search correspondence for contraband, sealed envelopes will be opened, and the contents will not be read by staff,” Ventura added.

He provided a link to a webpage with the full policy, which can be read here.

The full statement can be read below:

While we must refrain from discussing details regarding matters currently under litigation, RIDOC takes attorney-client privileges very seriously. We have a public policy (240-RICR-20-00-3) clearly outlining attorney visits and correspondence procedures with incarcerated persons (pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-56-10(22) and 42-56-1). The approved policy states that we can search correspondence for contraband, sealed envelopes will be opened, and the contents will not be read by staff. Our top priority is the safety and security of our staff and incarcerated population. K2 and other drugs are a national concern and are easily concealed in paper. With a drastic spike in the number of overdose cases and overdose deaths in prisons all over the country, those in custody depend on correctional institutions to keep them safe.