Posted on Jun 2, 2022
Michigan prisons ban Spanish and Swahili dictionaries to prevent inmate disruptions
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https://www.npr.org/2022/06/02/ [login to see] /michigan-prisons-ban-spanish-and-swahili-dictionaries-to-prevent-inmate-disrupti
Officials in prison systems across the United States have banned certain books as a way to prevent the flow of material that they say might incite violence.
In Michigan, the ban has extended to several non-English language dictionaries.
Over the last year, the Michigan Department of Corrections has banned dictionaries in Spanish and Swahili under claims that books' contents are a threat to the state's penitentiaries.
"If certain prisoners all decided to learn a very obscure language, they would be able to then speak freely in front of staff and others about introducing contraband or assaulting staff or assaulting another prisoner," said Chris Gautz, the spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections.
He says allowing prisoners to gain access to language books other than English could encourage them to organize without the knowledge of staff.
"When it's in a language that we don't have the ability to read ourselves and understand exactly what it is that we're looking for, we're not able to allow it in," he added.
Officials in prison systems across the United States have banned certain books as a way to prevent the flow of material that they say might incite violence.
In Michigan, the ban has extended to several non-English language dictionaries.
Over the last year, the Michigan Department of Corrections has banned dictionaries in Spanish and Swahili under claims that books' contents are a threat to the state's penitentiaries.
"If certain prisoners all decided to learn a very obscure language, they would be able to then speak freely in front of staff and others about introducing contraband or assaulting staff or assaulting another prisoner," said Chris Gautz, the spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections.
He says allowing prisoners to gain access to language books other than English could encourage them to organize without the knowledge of staff.
"When it's in a language that we don't have the ability to read ourselves and understand exactly what it is that we're looking for, we're not able to allow it in," he added.
Michigan prisons ban Spanish and Swahili dictionaries to prevent inmate disruptions
Posted from npr.org
Spanish
Foreign Language
Punishment
Reading
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 6
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel I can understand their concern... it's all about dealing with gangs. At the prison I volunteer at they won't let gym shoes have ANY color on them... gangs display their own colors.
..."“If certain prisoners all decided to learn a very obscure language, they would be able to then speak freely in front of staff and others about introducing contraband or assaulting staff or assaulting another prisoner,” said Chris Gautz, the spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections.
He says allowing prisoners to gain access to language books other than English could encourage them to organize without the knowledge of staff.
“When it’s in a language that we don’t have the ability to read ourselves and understand exactly what it is that we’re looking for, we’re not able to allow it in,” he added.
If staff is unable to find a translation the book request is denied, and the book is placed under the list of banned books – even when these are in Spanish. The second most spoken language in American households."...
..."“If certain prisoners all decided to learn a very obscure language, they would be able to then speak freely in front of staff and others about introducing contraband or assaulting staff or assaulting another prisoner,” said Chris Gautz, the spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections.
He says allowing prisoners to gain access to language books other than English could encourage them to organize without the knowledge of staff.
“When it’s in a language that we don’t have the ability to read ourselves and understand exactly what it is that we’re looking for, we’re not able to allow it in,” he added.
If staff is unable to find a translation the book request is denied, and the book is placed under the list of banned books – even when these are in Spanish. The second most spoken language in American households."...
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This is dumb and shallow thinking -- there are plenty of other ways to communicate from ciphers to code words/phrases...
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