Jalil Arbitrarily Denied Books including HIS OWN

On October 7, 2015, Jalil was arbitrarily denied receipt of four books after they had been approved by the package room. Jalil would like folk to write to Commissioner Annucci regarding this matter.

Write to Commissioner Annucci at:

Anthony Annucci
Commissioner of DOCCS
1220 Washington Avenue
The Harriman State Campus, Building 2
Albany, New York 12226-2050

Here are letters he wrote on this issue:

TO: Dale Artus, Superintendent
FR: A. Bottom ?#?77A4283?, D-38-31
Re: Denial of Books, Violation of Dir. #4911, Dir #4572
Violation of NYS Employees Manual §14.4

DT: October 7, 2015

Superintendent Artus:

There is a reoccurring problem at the package room pertaining to the receipt of books and reading materials.

Today, I was called to the package room to receive several books (Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust, by Darrell M. West; Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else, by Chrystie Freeland; Clandestine Occupations—An Imaginary History, by Diana Block; and Escaping the Prism—Fade to Black, by Jalil Muntaqim). The last book is of my own writings, my third published book. All of the books were originally approved to be received when received by the package room. However, when the package room officer started to give me the books, seeing the one written by me, he decided the books were no longer permitted to be received. I then requested the books be sent to media review pursuant to Directive 4911(H)(1)(b). The officer refused, demanding they be sent from the facility or be destroyed.

This is not the first time I’ve been denied publications and books from package room officers, or books were not processed according to Dir. #4911 and/or Dir. #4572. For example, as here enclosed, a publication was sent to Media Review without my being informed of receipt to the facility. The only notice of the publication receipt was from Media Review, informing the publication violated specific guidelines. This is not the correct protocol or procedure when books and publications received by the facility are sent to Media Review.

Again, when the officer today recognized one of the books was of my own writing, sent by my publisher, he decided at the window I could not have the book after first giving me the receipt paper for me to sign to receive the book. He then rejected the three other books out of hand, again denying they be sent to the Media Review Committee, although invoices for each indicated they were properly ordered.

I would prefer not to presume the officer at the package room was prejudiced due to my being the author of the book. However, the only conclusion to be reached, after the books were initially approved to be received, is that the officer’s refusal to permit me to have the books at the window obviously provides no other plausible reason than his personal disdain and prejudice.

Needless to assert here, there is a plethora of legal cases and Court rulings that deny violation of First Amendment guarantees as pertaining to free speech and receipt of literature for prisoners. This includes the procedural due process right for the handling of literature for prisoners. In this case, those procedural due process rights are promulgated in DOCCS Directive(s) #4911, #4572 and Employees Manual §14.4

This is my first formal complaint to your office, although this has been a reoccurring problem. I sincerely hope your office will investigate this matter, and assure future receipt of books, publications and literature will be processed according to stated Directives, and not subject to officers’ prejudice, capricious or arbitrary discretion.

Sincerely,
Anthony Bottom
cc: Anthony Annucci, Commissoner DOCCS
Correctional Association of New York
Attorney
fl.

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Anthony Bottom #77A4283
Attica Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 149
Attica, New York 14011-0149

October 7, 2015

Anthony Annucci
Commissioner of DOCCS
1220 Washington Avenue
The Harriman State Campus, Building 2
Albany, New York 12226-2050

Re: Attica Correctional Facility Failure to
Adhere to Directive(s) #4911 & 4572
Employees Manual §14.1

Dear Commissioner Annucci:

I have been in Attica this time since 2011, enduring the rampant racism and stress of threat of brutality. I’ve been concentrating on building community support for eventual release on parole. However, there is an increasing level of harassment and prejudice being directed toward me and friends (family) who visit.

Previously, I requested those who suffered such disrespect and harassment to raise their concerns with the office of DOCCS Commissioner. However, the majority of the time I’ve asked visitors to ignore such harassment.

However, it is now approaching a problem in which minor concerns such as receipt of literature are being arbitrarily denied in violation of specific Directives that are in place to mitigate against such violations.

In this regards, I am enclosing a complaint raised with Superintendent Dale Artus, in furtherance of making a record. If litigation is required, Notice is here given.

There is an ongoing and continuing problem of violation of Directive(s) #4911 and #4572 at this facility. I have previously litigated this matter in a general issue of misappropriation of funds, and failure to vote exchange of packages for TV, and no Inmate Liaison Committee elections at this facility. Nonetheless, the persistence of fundamental Directive violations, for me has reached a nodal point demanding this matter be brought directly to your office’s attention.

Given the extent of the reoccurring problem, and the years of experiencing this violation, it is my sincere hope a full and complete investigation will be made subject to this complaint.
Your prompt and concise reply to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Anthony Bottom
cc: Dale Artus, Superintendent;