Together with the National ACLU, the ACLU of South Carolina has been investigating alleged violations of the constitutional rights of criminal defendants and individuals who are incarcerated at the Spartanburg County Detention Center. Attorneys have attemtped to gather information through confidential, face-t0-face meetings, but prison officials refused to allow us to conduct attorney visist.
The First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution protects the right to free speech, and has long been held to apply to attorneys seeking to conduct confidential, in-person interviews with prisoners.
We sued the Spartanburg County Detention Center, as well as the Sheriff and prison administrator, alleging that the policy and practice they have in place violates our First Amendment rights.