jones north carolina prisoners union argued april decided june appellee prisoners labor union brought action claiming first amendment equal protection rights violated regulations promulgated north carolina department correction prohibited prisoners soliciting inmates join union barred union meetings bulk mailings concerning union outside sources district noted appellants permitted inmates join union granted substantial injunctive relief concluded prohibiting solicitation border ed irrational since bulk mailings meetings inmates jaycees alcoholics anonymous one institution boy scouts hereafter collectively service organizations permitted appellants absent showing detriment penological objectives may pick choose depending approval disapproval message purpose group held challenged regulations violate first amendment made applicable fourteenth pp fact confinement needs penal institution impose limitations constitutional rights including derived first amendment pell procunier perhaps obvious associational rights first amendment protects outside prison walls pp district overstated appellants concession true membership entailed appellants permitted membership union involved dues obligations reasonable assumption individual believe chose believe appellants never acquiesced permitted group activity union ban inmate solicitation group meetings rationally related reasonable objectives prison administration pp first amendment speech rights barely implicated mail rights involved cost savings bulk mailings pp prohibition solicitation unduly abridge inmates free speech rights prison officials otherwise entitled control organized union activity within confines prison solicitation ban impermissible first amendment prohibition reasonable necessary pell procunier supra pp first amendment associational rights also unduly abridged appellants conclusion presence prisoners union detrimental prison order security conclusively shown wrong regulations drafted broader necessary meet perceived threat group meetings organizational activity order security pp appellants prohibition receipt distribution inmates bulk mail union well prohibition union meetings among inmates whereas service organizations given bulk mailing meeting rights violate equal protection clause prison constitute public forum appellants demonstrated rational basis distinguishing union occupied adversary role espoused purpose illegal north carolina law service organizations performed rehabilitation services pp rehnquist delivered opinion burger stewart white blackmun powell joined burger filed concurring opinion post stevens filed opinion concurring part dissenting part post marshall filed dissenting opinion brennan joined post jacob safron special deputy attorney general north carolina argued cause appellants brief rufus edmisten attorney general norman smith argued cause appellee brief deborah mailman kenneth geller argued cause amicus curiae urging reversal brief acting solicitor general friedman assistant attorney general thornburgh jerome feit prisoners union filed brief amicus curiae urging affirmance justice rehnquist delivered opinion pursuant regulations promulgated north carolina department correction appellants prohibited inmates soliciting inmates join appellee north carolina prisoners labor union union barred meetings union refused deliver packets union publications mailed bulk several inmates redistribution among prisoners union instituted action based challenge policies alleged appellants efforts prevent operation prisoners union violated first fourteenth amendment rights members refusal grant union privileges accorded several organizations operating within prison system deprived union equal protection laws convened hearing found merit union free speech association equal protection arguments enjoined appellants preventing inmates soliciting prisoners join union refus ing receipt union publications ground calculated encourage membership organization solicit joining also held union shall accorded privilege holding meetings limitations control neutrally applied inmate organizations supp noted probable jurisdiction consider whether first fourteenth amendments extend prisoner labor unions protection decided accordingly reverse judgment district appellee organization prisoners labor union incorporated late stated goal promotion charitable labor union purposes formation prisoners labor union every prison jail north carolina seek collective bargaining improve working conditions also proposed work toward alteration elimination practices policies department correction approve serve vehicle presentation resolution inmate grievances early union attracted inmate members different prison units throughout north carolina state north carolina unhappy developments set prevent inmates forming operating union state tolerated individual membership belief union sought prohibit inmate solicitation inmates meetings members union bulk mailings concerning union outside sources pursuant regulation promulgated department correction march solicitation group activity proscribed suit filed union district eastern district north carolina march approximately week date upon regulation take effect union claimed rights rights members engage protected free speech association assembly activities infringed rules also alleged deprivation equal protection laws jaycees alcoholics anonymous permitted meetings organizational rights distribution bulk mailing material union denied declaratory judgment injunction continuation restrictive policies sought substantial damages district convened pursuant dismissing union prayers damages attorney fees granted substantial injunctive relief found appellants permitted inmates join union oppose solicitation inmates join either solicitation correspondence noted appellants sincerely believe existence union increase burdens administration constitute threat essential discipline control apprehensive inmates may use union establish power bloc within inmate population utilized cause work slowdowns stoppages undesirable concerted activity unable perceive necessary essential security order prisons forbid solicitation membership union permitted authorities case riot one scintilla evidence suggest union utilized disrupt operation penal institutions ii district believe got wrong foot case giving appropriate deference decisions prison administrators appropriate recognition peculiar restrictive circumstances penal confinement litigation prison inmates concerning conditions confinement challenged eighth amendment recent vintage long recognized awful incarceration brings necessary withdrawal limitation many privileges rights retraction justified considerations underlying penal system price johnston see also pell procunier wolff mcdonnell fact confinement needs penal institution impose limitations constitutional rights including derived first amendment implicit incarceration noted pell procunier supra prison inmate retains first amendment rights inconsistent status prisoner legitimate penological objectives corrections system thus challenges prison restrictions asserted inhibit first amendment interests must analyzed terms legitimate policies goals corrections system whose custody care prisoner committed accordance due process law realities running penal institution complex difficult also recognized deference accorded decisions prison administrators noted procunier martinez ourts ill equipped deal increasingly urgent problems prison administration reform judicial recognition fact reflects healthy sense realism moreover state penal institutions involved federal courts reason deference appropriate prison authorities omitted state correctional officials uniformly testified concept prisoners labor union fraught potential dangers whether union intended illegally press recognition appellant ralph edwards commissioner department correction stated affidavit creation inmate union naturally result increasing existing friction inmates prison personnel also create friction union inmates inmates existence union inmates create divisive element within inmate population time units already seriously element aggravate already tense conditions purpose union may well worthwhile projects evident inmate organizers recognized spokesman inmates make power figures among inmates union successful inmates position misuse influence inmate union become established probably nothing department terminate existence even activities became overtly subversive functioning department work stoppages mutinies easily foreseeable riots chaos almost inevitably result thus even purposes union stated complaint potential dangerous situation exists situation brought control district however gave particular emphasis viewed appellants tolerance membership inmates union undermining appellants position viewed system permitted inmate membership prohibited solicitation well noted meetings group activities bordering irrational felt defendants hypothesis case existence union membership dangerous otherwise surely undertaken forbid membership however considerably overstates appellants concession pure membership entails appellants permitted membership reasonable assumption individual prisoner believe chose believe outside individuals able communicate ideas beliefs individual inmates since member qua member incurs dues obligations prisoner apparently may become member simply considering member position simply reflects concept thought control means prohibiting beliefs undesirable impossible appellants never acquiesced permitted group activity union nature functioning organization inmates within prison district find clearly irrational conclude individuals may believe want concerted group activity solicitation therefor pose additional unwarranted problems frictions operation state penal institutions ban inmate solicitation group meetings therefore rationally related reasonable indeed central objectives prison administration cf pell procunier supra invocation first amendment whether asserted rights speech associational change analysis prison context inmate retain first amendment rights inconsistent status prisoner legitimate penological objectives corrections system pell procunier supra prisons obvious differ numerous respects free society begin populated involuntarily people found violated one criminal laws established society orderly governance seeking mutual accommodation institutional needs objectives prisons provisions constitution general application wolff mcdonnell repeatedly recognized need major restrictions prisoner rights see lanza new york restrictions applied well first amendment values implicated see pell procunier supra procunier martinez meachum fano examination potential restrictions speech association imposed regulations challenge demonstrates restrictions imposed reasonable consistent inmates status prisoners legitimate operational considerations institution begin first amendment speech rights barely implicated case mail rights implicated question respecting mail bulk mailings advantages bulk mailings inmates union cheaper rates convenience district relied cheaper bulk mailing rates finding equal protection violation infra clear losing cost advantages fundamentally implicate free speech values since avenues outside informational flow union remain available prohibition bulk mailing reasonable absence first amendment considerations remains reasonable cf pell procunier supra saxbe washington post prohibition solicitation membership trench untowardly inmates first amendment speech rights solicitation membership involves good deal simple expression individual views advantages disadvantages union views invitation collectively engage legitimately prohibited activity prison officials otherwise entitled control organized union activity within prison walls prohibition solicitation activity made impermissible account first amendment considerations prohibition reasonable necessary pell procunier first amendment associational rights perhaps directly implicated regulatory prohibitions likewise must give way reasonable considerations penal management already noted numerous associational rights necessarily curtailed realities confinement may curtailed whenever institution officials exercise informed discretion reasonably conclude associations whether group meetings otherwise possess likelihood disruption prison order stability otherwise interfere legitimate penological objectives prison environment noted pell procunier supra central corrections goals institutional consideration internal security within corrections facilities appellant prison officials concluded presence perhaps even objectives prisoners labor union detrimental order security prisons supra enough say conclusively shown wrong view interest preserving order authority prisons prison life relations inmates inmates prison officials staff contain potential violent confrontation conflagration wolff mcdonnell responsible prison officials must permitted take reasonable steps forestall threat must permitted act time compile dossier eve riot case prisoners union focus presentation grievances encouragement adversary relations institution officials surely rank high anyone list potential trouble spots appellants views possible detrimental effects organizational activities union reasonable conclude regulations drafted broadly need meet perceived threat stems directly group meetings group organizational activities union cf procunier martinez weighed first amendment rights asserted institutional reasons sufficiently weighty prevail district rested equal protection clause fourteenth amendment strike appellants prohibition receipt distribution bulk mail union well prohibition union meetings among inmates felt denial equal protection bulk mailing meeting rights extended jaycees alcoholics anonymous boy scouts felt outside prison government may pick choose depending upon approval disapproval message purpose group appellants choose among groups without first demonstrating activity proscribed detrimental proper penological objectives subversive good discipline otherwise harmful ibid analysis faulty two reasons district erroneously treated case prison environment essentially public forum observed last term upholding ban political meetings fort dix government enclave military base public forum greer spock stated fact civilian speakers entertainers sometimes invited appear fort dix serve convert fort dix public forum confer upon political candidates first fifth amendment right conduct campaigns decision military authorities civilian lecture drug abuse religious service visiting preacher base chapel rock musical concert supportive military mission fort dix surely leave authorities powerless thereafter prevent civilian entering fort dix speak subject whatever conclusions unreasonable prison administrators may surely conclude jaycees alcoholics anonymous differ fundamental respects appellee union group past speak avowed intent pursue adversary relationship prison officials indeed enough distinguish union alcoholics anonymous note chartered purpose union apparently pursued prison illegal north carolina law since prison emphatically public forum reasonable beliefs appellants sufficient cf greer spock supra city charlotte firefighters supra district requirement demonstrable showing union fact harmful inconsistent deference federal courts pay informed discretion prison officials procunier martinez precisely matters decision many groups allowed operate within prison walls confronted claims based equal protection clause courts allow prison administrators full latitude discretion unless firmly stated two groups similar discretion abused surely case nothing constitution requires prison officials treat inmate groups alike differentiation necessary avoid imminent threat institutional disruption violence regulations appellants challenged district offended neither first fourteenth amendment judgment holding contrary reversed footnotes allegations contained complaint respecting opening outgoing prison mail interference visitation rights certain paralegals specific allegations us deal appellants enjoined follows inmates persons shall permitted solicit invite inmates join plaintiff union orally written printed communication provided however access inmates outsiders solely purpose soliciting membership may denied except inmate members union may become entitled visited free persons engaged legitimate union projects extent members free society admitted like purposes free persons otherwise entitled visitation inmates attorneys paralegals friends relatives etc shall denied access visitation reason association affiliation union union shall accorded privilege bulk mailing extent privilege accorded organizations union inmate members shall accorded privilege holding meetings limitations control neutrally applied inmate organizations extent meetings prisoners permitted district observed clear beyond argument association prisoners may operate true labor union concluded legal significance charter purports authorize lawfully accomplished supp whether illegal activity actually actively pursued union clear announced purpose engage collective bargaining factor prison officials may legitimately consider determining whether union likely disruptive influence otherwise detrimental effective administration north carolina prison system district hold one scintilla evidence suggest union utilized disrupt operation penal institutions historical finding however state appellants fears future disruptions groundless indicated opposite conflicting expert opinion evidence left firm conviction association inmates necessarily good bad state hampered ability prison inmates communicate grievances correctional officials banning union solicitation organization appellants merely affected one several ways inmates may voice complaints seek relief prison officials exists inmate grievance procedure correctional officials informed complaints concerning prison conditions remedial action may secured see affidavit director edwards app presumably effective path available transmission grievances fact union grievance procedures might desirable convert prohibitory regulations unconstitutional acts see procunier martinez cf greer spock powell concurring complaint alleged bulk mail prohibition denied union equal protection laws refusal defendants allow prisoners union newsletter arrive bundles distribution allowing jaycee newsletter arrive manner violates plaintiff fourteenth amendment right equal protection laws ban bulk mailing union extend individual mailings individual inmates affidavit director edwards stated permitted receive publications sent directly prohibited receiving packets material unions source redistribution accordance department policy requiring publication mailed inmates sent directly publisher serious security problem result inmates receive packets material redistribute see fit impossible department inspect every magazine every book insure contraband placed inside publication exception regard jaycees based recognized fact jaycees substantial citizens free community unlikely attempt smuggle contraband union disseminate propaganda subversive legitimate purposes prison system app informed discretion prison officials potential danger may sufficient limiting rights even though showing might unimpressive submitted justification governmental restriction personal communication among members general public pell procunier director edwards listed objectives jaycees allowed within north carolina prison system namely productive association inmates stable community representatives accomplishment service projects community objectives cease functions organization opportunities assemble organization also cease affidavit director edwards app respect alcoholics anonymous stated objectives alcoholics anonymous program provide therapeutic support insight opportunity productive sharing experiences among encountered deteriorative effects alcoholism alcoholics anonymous structured peer pressure basis begins individual client confined intended carry effects alcoholic anonymous groups free community respect alcoholics anonymous jaycees director edwards stated ibid goals objectives alcoholics anonymous jaycee program presented correctional staff meaningful courses action positive goals relative productive restoration offenders active lawful participation community goals organizations scrutinized evaluated approved operational guidelines drawn instance following approval certify primary objective correctional system maintain order security abridged operation programs within confines prison units division prisons unable validate substantive rehabilitation purpose associative purpose design organization accept organizational objectives prisoner union approve organization whose design purpose compromise order security correctional system see supra acknowledged oral argument union newsletter since reiterated union goal stated charter newsletter contained authorization cards whereby inmate authorize agents representatives said union represent act collective bargaining agent matters pertaining rates pay hours employment terms conditions incarceration record see tr oral arg chief justice burger concurring concur fully opinion another long line cases federal courts raising questions concerning authority regulate administer matters peculiarly local nature often confusion decides type case issue course whether prisoner unions good bad rather whether federal constitution prohibits state prison officials deciding exclude organizations inmates prison society efforts carry one vexing state responsibilities operating penological institution determining suggest prison officials permit inmate organizations constitution require solutions problems arising within correctional institutions never simple easy prisons definition closed societies populated individuals demonstrated inability refusal conform conduct norms demanded civilized society necessity rules far different imposed society large must prevail within prison walls federal courts often noted equipped experience otherwise second guess decisions state legislatures administrators sensitive area except extraordinary circumstances recognition course imply prisoner stripped constitutional protection passes prison gates indeed made clear numerous occasions constitution federal laws protect certain basic rights inmates bounds smith rather reflects healthy sense realism part understand needed reforms area prison administration must come federal courts expertise field prison administrators see procunier martinez last half dozen years enlightened correctional administrators made significant strides area prison reform notable respect grievance procedures instituted federal bureau prisons pilot experiments number including north carolina permit inmates register complaints penal officials obtain nonjudicial relief however applaud procedures indeed urged adoption burger report federal judicial branch suggest procedures constitutionally mandated similarly pass today social utility inmate organizations whether characterized unions otherwise whether constitution requires prison officials permit operation statistics compiled federal bureau prisons indicate alone complaints inmates brought attention federal prison officials pursuant grievance procedures approximately complaints ultimately resolved favor inmate preliminary figures indicate even greater utilization grievance procedures estimated complaints registered inmates year brief amicus curiae development grievance procedure appears slowed rate growth federal prisoner petitions filed federal district courts annual report director administrative office courts justice stevens concurring part dissenting part disagreement extremely narrow sanctioned restraint discussion inmates relative advantages disadvantages belonging prisoners union prohibition solicitation upholds defined invitation collectively engage legitimately prohibited activity ante made clear mere membership union activity ante language appellants regulation however somewhat broader therefore instead concluding entire regulation valid ante hold invalid extent exceeds definition join portions opinion concerning bulk mailing union meeting claims persons custody department correction prohibited soliciting inmates membership inmate union jurisdictional statement justice marshall justice brennan joins dissenting time long ago prisoners regarded slave state forfeited liberty personal rights ruffin commonwealth recent years however courts increasingly rejected view corollary holds courts keep hands penal institutions today however apparent fear prison reform organization temerity call union takes giant step backwards toward discredited conception prisoners rights role courts decline join hope prove temporary retreat procunier martinez set forth length understanding first amendment rights prison inmates fundamental tenet advanced simply stated prisoner shed basic first amendment rights prison gate rather retains rights ordinary citizen except expressly necessary implication taken law coffin reichard concurring opinion follows tenet restriction first amendment rights prisoners like restriction rights nonprisoners justified substantial government interest showing means chosen effectuate state purpose unnecessarily restrictive personal freedoms mean expressive conduct constitutionally protected outside prison necessarily protected inside also stated martinez first amendment must context applied light special characteristics environment healy james exigencies governing persons prisons different greater governing persons without basic mode first amendment analysis requirement restrictions speech supported reasons imperatively justifying particular deprivation ibid altered simply first amendment claimants incarcerated today rejects analytic framework least applies right prisoners associate something called prison union testing restrictions exercise right asks whether restrictions rationally related objectives prison administration ante whether reasons offered defense restrictions conclusively shown wrong ante proclaiming faithfulness teaching pell procunier prison inmate retains first amendment rights inconsistent status prisoner ante ultimately upholds challenged regulations ground apply restriction inmate freedom consistent inmates status prisoners ante nothing opinion justifies wholesale abandonment traditional principles first amendment analysis realize course realities running penal institution complex difficult ante correctional officers possess considerably professional expertise ante prison management judges way minimize either seriousness problems significance expertise seem realities running school city also complex difficult charged tasks principals college presidents mayors councilmen law enforcement personnel also possess special professional expertise yet first amendment case aware deferred judgment officials simply judgment rational cf healy james tinker des moines school cox louisiana edwards south carolina understand different rule apply simply prisons involved reason courts blindly defer judgment prison administrators officials matter easily understood prison administrator business maintain order inheres danger may well less responsive part independent branch government constitutionally protected interests free expression freedman maryland warden seldom find subject public criticism dismissal needlessly repressed free speech indeed neither public warden way knowing repression unnecessary warden job jeopardized public criticism sure come disorder occur consequently prison officials inevitably err side little freedom occurred past made clear recent report american bar association joint committee legal status prisoners organizations including correctional organizations overreact suggested changes whether sweeping merely incremental fears voiced prison officials growing tide determinations invalidating prison regulations simply come pass indeed several instances groups feared prisons become stabilizing influences approach advocate precisely one followed cases involving rights prisoners johnson avery example expressly acknowledged rationality rule issue prohibited inmate writ writers aiding fellow prisoners preparing legal papers nevertheless concluded rule unconstitutional impact prisoners right access courts lee washington even inquire whether segregating prisoners race rational although argued integration southern prison lead disorder among inmates held event segregation prohibited fourteenth amendment bounds smith wolff mcdonnell cruz beto followed approach lee word deed repeatedly reaffirmed policy judicial restraint encompass failure take cognizance valid constitutional claims prison regulation practice offends fundamental constitutional guarantee federal courts discharge duty protect constitutional rights procunier martinez ii established traditional first amendment principles applicable cases dispute easily resolved found one scintilla evidence suggest union utilized disrupt operation penal institutions supp ednc acknowledges ante also found evidence inmates intend operate union hamper interfere proper interests government union posed present danger security order face findings argued restrictions union imperatively justif ied regulation barring inmates soliciting fellow prisoners join union particularly vulnerable attack late judge craven stated permit inmate join union forbid inviting others join borders irrational irrationality regulation perhaps best demonstrated fact defend rather brother stevens suggests ante defends hypothetical regulation banning invitation collectively engage legitimately prohibited activity ante see also ante discussing ban concerted group activity solicitation therefor actual regulation issue needlessly bars solicitation activity joining union presumably prohibited hold unconstitutional rule outlawing solicitation invalidated prohibition bulk mailing union must fall since north carolina allows union mail newsletters prisoners individually state claim bulk mail rule serves keep subversive material prison rather primary purpose rule must supplement ban solicitation overturning ban sap force rationale excluding bulk mailings exclusion left one unnecessarily increases cost union exercising first amendment rights allowing inmate groups jaycees exercise rights lower price therefore plainly unconstitutional regulation prohibiting union holding meetings within prison somewhat justifiable regulations previously considered union permitted hold meetings become operational within prisons appellants fears leaders operating union position misuse influence union engage disruptive concerted activities increase tension within prisons app entirely fanciful important note however appellee two expert witnesses correctional officers dealt inmate reform organizations testified groups actually play constructive role prisons weight professional opinion seems favor recognizing groups moreover risks appellants fear inherent inmate organization matter innocuous stated goals indeed even without organizations inmates inevitably become leaders capable misus ing influence concerted activity still occur even risks posed union unique even appellants fear union widely shared professionals prohibition union meetings still survive constitutional attack central lesson half century first amendment adjudication freedom sometimes hazardous enterprise constitution requires state bear certain risks preserve liberty see whitney california brandeis concurring terminiello chicago aba joint committee supra put doubts risks raised creating humane open prison must accepted cost society democracy form government mind therefore fact appellants acted wholly irrationally banning union meetings dispositive rather believe meetings pose immediate substantial threat security rehabilitative functions prisons first amendment guarantees union members right associate freely fourteenth amendment guarantees right treated favorably members inmate organizations state surely regulate time place manner meetings perhaps monitor assure disruptions planned state outlaw assemblies altogether iii mode analysis adopted today decision generally followed prisoners eventually stripped constitutional rights retain privileges prison officials informed discretion deigned recognize sole constitutional constraint prison officials requirement act rationally ironically prisoners left right access courts see bounds smith johnson avery substantive rights assert get believe decided bounds johnson stated iron curtain drawn constitution prisons country wolff mcdonnell prison inmate retains first amendment rights inconsistent status prisoner pell procunier intends allow happen therefore believe tension today decision prior cases ultimately resolved demise earlier cases recognition decision today aberration manifestation extent phrase prisoner union threatening holding traditional conceptions nature penal institutions respectfully dissent brief exposition doctrine demise see fox first amendment rights prisoners crim first amendment protects right associate well established see kusper pontikes naacp alabama similarly prison administrators principals college presidents like must permitted act time compile dossier eve riot ante aba joint committee legal status prisoners legal status prisoners tent draft crim rev hereafter aba joint committee report express view concerning extent orderly concerted activities protected prison issue addressed length aba joint committee report standard commentary justification offered rule prevent contraband smuggled prisons nothing record remotely suggests outside personnel associated union use bulk mailing purpose moreover solution alleged contraband danger inspect bulk mailings prohibit contrary assertion ante free speech values definitely implicated regulation whose purpose effect make exercise first amendment rights costly cf murdock pennsylvania grosjean american press see aba joint committee report standard commentary krantz bell brant magruder model rules regulations prisoners rights responsibilities rules commentary national advisory commission criminal justice standards goals corrections standard commentary pp see also note bargaining correctional institutions restructuring relation inmate prison authority yale concern inmate leadership advanced oppose numerous prison reforms johnson avery white dissenting saxbe washington post powell dissenting rejecting argument aba joint committee report