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I'm worried this question might get written off. I would actually like to know the answer to this as well. My immediate reaction is that either (1) it is poss

I'm worried this question might get written off. I would actually like to know the answer to this as well. My immediate reaction is that either (1) it is possible, and the story is therefore more nuanced that might appear at first glance, or (2) it is not possible, and this is an even more egregious problem.

mulmen 6y ago
The comment that spawned this thread is here and suggests phone privileges can also be taken away by mistake in this system: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26227031 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26227031
- omginternets 6y ago
  I know very little about the prison system, but surely the suspension of phone privileged cannot prevent an inmate from contacting his legal representation, right?
  - chordalkeyboard 6y ago
    How do you propose for an inmate to contact his representation?
    - lazyasciiart 6y ago
      Mail, or asking another prisoner with communication to the outside to ask their contact to call the lawyer and have them come visit.
      - lazyasciiart 6y ago
        If somebody is objecting to this comment based on it being wrong, I'd love to hear any corrections. Perhaps unfairly, I suspect it's more of an objection to the setup being described.
        chordalkeyboard 6y ago
        I’m not sure why you’re being downvoted. You did offer a reasonable answer. I think other people are reacting emotionally, the same way I did, because they are morally outraged at the perceived situation.
    - omginternets 6y ago
      Presumably by saying something like "I understand my phone privileged have been revoked, but I need to contact my lawyer", at which point the authority in question would recognize that this constitutes an exception to said revocation. You know ... the obvious way.
      - chordalkeyboard 6y ago
        > at which point the authority in question would recognize that this constitutes an exception to said revocation. I think you misunderstand the nature of authority by thinking that they would recognize this as an exception. > You know ... the obvious way. Whats obvious here is that an incarcerated person only has the options that the carceral state permits to them.
        omginternets 6y ago
        >Whats obvious here is that an incarcerated person only has the options that the carceral state permits to them. Yes, thank you for the tautology. You'll note that this was exactly my question: does the state make such exceptions? If you don't know, that's perfectly fine, but respectfully, your apparent mistrust of authority is hardly interesting to internet strangers. We're more interested in any factual elements you might have. Please, if you have any information specific to this case that we've overlooked, feel free to share. If not, hopefully someone else does!
        chordalkeyboard 6y ago
        > Yes, thank you for the tautology. You'll note that this was exactly my question: does the state make such exceptions? Why would they? > I'm a bit perplexed by your responses -- it seems like you either have information you aren't sharing, or like this subject make you impassioned. I’m sorry if I come across negatively. I am impassioned about this. People who are locked up have no recognized rights. They are at the mercy of the guards. Not the legislature, not the prison system, the guards.
        wyattpeak 6y ago
  - curryst 6y ago
    Probably not legally. Prisoners are required to be allowed "reasonable" access to their counsel. They might be able to suspend your ability to call your lawyer, as long as they don't stop you from writing them letters and meeting in person, for example. I'm not read on the case law so I don't know specifics, but they can't totally prevent you from meeting your lawyer without serious constitutional issues.

mulmen 6y ago

The comment that spawned this thread is here and suggests phone privileges can also be taken away by mistake in this system: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26227031 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26227031

omginternets 6y ago
I know very little about the prison system, but surely the suspension of phone privileged cannot prevent an inmate from contacting his legal representation, right?
- chordalkeyboard 6y ago
  How do you propose for an inmate to contact his representation?
  - lazyasciiart 6y ago
    Mail, or asking another prisoner with communication to the outside to ask their contact to call the lawyer and have them come visit.
    - lazyasciiart 6y ago
      If somebody is objecting to this comment based on it being wrong, I'd love to hear any corrections. Perhaps unfairly, I suspect it's more of an objection to the setup being described.
      - chordalkeyboard 6y ago
        I’m not sure why you’re being downvoted. You did offer a reasonable answer. I think other people are reacting emotionally, the same way I did, because they are morally outraged at the perceived situation.
  - omginternets 6y ago
    Presumably by saying something like "I understand my phone privileged have been revoked, but I need to contact my lawyer", at which point the authority in question would recognize that this constitutes an exception to said revocation. You know ... the obvious way.
    - chordalkeyboard 6y ago
      > at which point the authority in question would recognize that this constitutes an exception to said revocation. I think you misunderstand the nature of authority by thinking that they would recognize this as an exception. > You know ... the obvious way. Whats obvious here is that an incarcerated person only has the options that the carceral state permits to them.
      - omginternets 6y ago
        >Whats obvious here is that an incarcerated person only has the options that the carceral state permits to them. Yes, thank you for the tautology. You'll note that this was exactly my question: does the state make such exceptions? If you don't know, that's perfectly fine, but respectfully, your apparent mistrust of authority is hardly interesting to internet strangers. We're more interested in any factual elements you might have. Please, if you have any information specific to this case that we've overlooked, feel free to share. If not, hopefully someone else does!
        chordalkeyboard 6y ago
        > Yes, thank you for the tautology. You'll note that this was exactly my question: does the state make such exceptions? Why would they? > I'm a bit perplexed by your responses -- it seems like you either have information you aren't sharing, or like this subject make you impassioned. I’m sorry if I come across negatively. I am impassioned about this. People who are locked up have no recognized rights. They are at the mercy of the guards. Not the legislature, not the prison system, the guards.
        wyattpeak 6y ago
- curryst 6y ago
  Probably not legally. Prisoners are required to be allowed "reasonable" access to their counsel. They might be able to suspend your ability to call your lawyer, as long as they don't stop you from writing them letters and meeting in person, for example. I'm not read on the case law so I don't know specifics, but they can't totally prevent you from meeting your lawyer without serious constitutional issues.