PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The ACLU of Rhode Island filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) for allegedly interfering with the rights of ACI prisoners and their attorneys. The suit claims that the ACI has interfered with the process of prisoners and lawyers sharing information in a confidential manner, “and basic principles underlying the confidentiality that is inherent to the attorney-client privilege.” The ACLU of RI is claiming that RIDOC has adopted new practices in violation of formerly adopted policies governing attorney mail and visits. These practices have allowed RIDOC staff to “repeatedly take custody of written communications between prisoners and their legal representatives and subject them to inspection and copying out of the presence of the prisoner and/or the legal representative.” The suit notes that these practices are not uniformly adhered to by RIDOC correctional staff. The ACLU cited an instance where ACI staff are alleged to have required attorney Sonja Deyoe to turn over legal documents before a client visit, which were “taken outside of her presence before being returned to her.” The ACLU also alleges that RIDCO took custody of privileged mail sent to prisoners by Rep. David Morales. These letter contained a survey asking maximum security prisoners about their experiences in solitary confinement. The letters were allegedly withheld for two weeks before being given to the prisoners. The ACLU of RI is also stating that these RIDOC practices violate the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), which they state is a Rhode Island law “requiring state agencies to adopt rules and regulations only in accordance with a public-involved rulemaking process.” The ACLU claims that RIDOC agreed 40 years ago via a settlement that any new visitation and mail rules were subject to public notice under the APA. The lawsuit can be read in its entirety here. ABC6 has reached out to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections for comment on this matter. Categories: News, Rhode Island