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Thornburgh v. Abbott

United States Supreme Court
490 U.S. 401 (1989)

Written by Megan Petersen, JD

Facts

Federal prisoners are permitted to receive publications from sources outside the prison, but prison officials are authorized to reject incoming publications found to be detrimental to institutional security or pose a risk of facilitating criminal activity. The Federal Bureau of Prisons promulgates these regulations. Abbott (plaintiff), a prisoner, along with a class of other prisoners, brought suit in federal district court against U.S. Attorney General Richard Thornburgh (defendant) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons on the grounds that the regulations violated the First Amendment. The district court upheld the regulations as constitutional, but the court of appeals reversed. The United States Supreme court granted certiorari.

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Concurrence/Dissent (Stevens, J.)

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