By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The county has settled a lawsuit with a magazine publisher who claimed the Lewis County Jail violated his rights under the First Amendment by refusing to accept its free publication for inmates.
Crime, Justice and America claimed the jail’s blanket ban on unsolicited publications was exaggerated.
Jail Chief Kevin Hanson said after the suit was filed in federal court at the end of March, he would accept the magazine, but only in limited quantities and if addressed to specific named inmates.
Lewis County Deputy Prosecutor David Fine notified the county board of commissioner’s today that Lewis and a dozen other Washington counties signed the settlement on Friday.
Lewis County will pay the California publisher $10,000, Fine said.
It just means the case is over, Fine said, and the county’s insurer has sent them $10,000.
“They’ve never sent us a magazine, but if they wish to, and it’s addressed to an inmate, it’ll be handed over to the inmate,” Fine said.
There won’t be any policy changes because the jail is in compliance with the law, according to Fine.
Crime, Justice and America’s publisher Ray Hrdlicka, was claiming monetary damages from lost advertising and wanted a judge’s order for the jail to stop violating its rights.
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For background, read “Jail sued over magazine offer for inmates” from Thursday March 29, 2012, here [1]