Date: 05 Nov 92 18:19:30 EST >From: Gordon Meyer <72307.1502@COMPUSERVE.COM> Subject: File 5--Computer Info off-limits to Federal Prisoners COMPUTER INFORMATION OFF LIMITS FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS WINDOWS magazine reports John D. Caulfield, Warden of the Federal Prison Camp at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, has forbidden the distribution of their publication to prisoners in his facility. The publication received a letter from Warden Caulfield after sending an issue to an un-named inmate. The complete letter is reprinted on page 288 of the October 1992 issue. The letter says in part... I have reviewed the publication entitled WINDOWS, the July 1992 issue, that was mailed to, (NAME REMOVED), a resident of this facility, and have found the programming contents to be unacceptable for introduction into this facility. Program Statement 1232.3 entitled "Personal Computers" S13, PG, states, "There will be no training in programming techniques, programming languages, or computer repair." Due to the information cited above, the July publication entitled WINDOWS is not suited for introduction into this facility. No further explanation is given by the Warden. One wonders why the institution feels the need to censor this information. It is true that it is of limited usefulness while incarcerated, because the inmate probably wouldn't have access to a computer to use, but if anything this should _allow_ the distribution of technical information, not inhibit it. Publications are often censored because of the disruption they might cause within the facility. Clearly an inmate attempting to learn C++ without access to a CPU is a threat to no one. CuD intends to contact the Warden for more information regarding this bizarre rule and will report any additional information in a future issue. Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253