What is the current state of the law on the right to mail in prison?

Under the First Amendment, prisoners have a right to send and receive mail. Witherow v. Paff, 52 F.3d 264, 265 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam). However, a prison may adopt regulations or practices for inmate mail which limit a prisoner's First Amendment rights as long as the regulations are reasonably related to legitimate penological interests. Turner v. Safley, 482 U.S. 78, 89, (1987). When a prison regulation affects outgoing mail as opposed to incoming mail, there must be a closer fit between the regulation and the purpose it serves.'

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