DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Supreme Court has unanimously ruled against a group of 12 inmates who challenged a 2018 state law prohibiting the use of public funds to purchase pornography for people incarcerated in Iowa’s prison system.
Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird announced the 7-0 decision on Friday.
Bird, who has long opposed pornography, rejected the inmates’ claim that they have a constitutional right to access porn while in prison.
“Pornography doesn’t belong in prison, and certainly not on the Iowa taxpayers’ dime,” Bird said in a press release. “If pornography is considered contraband for our troops during boot camp it absolutely should not be provided at the taxpayers’ expense to those who are in prison.”
Bird added, “That’s just common sense, and I’m grateful for the Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous decision affirming that.”
In its decision, the Iowa Supreme Court said prison officials have the authority to restrict pornography in order to protect correctional staff and inmates from the potential risks of sexual harassment and violence associated with the illegal possession and trading of pornographic materials within the prison system.
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