Legal points/case updates

[Natalie Dzerins]

This thread can be used to discuss legal issues, or ask any questions
which we can try find the answer to.

As CeCe was only sentenced yesterday, we don't have an up-to-date
address to use yet, but as soon as we do we can start sending things.
It's worth noting the rules on sending letters to the prison: (from
SupportCeCe.wordpress.com) "Inmates are not allowed to receive
packages, including photographs. Packages will not be accepted and
will be returned to the sender. Photographs will be removed from the
envelope and returned to the inmate at the time of release. Please
note that all letters sent to the jail are opened, read, and inspected
by jail staff. Use good sense about what you say in your letter, and
don’t write about anything that is likely to get you or anyone else in
trouble with the cops."

[Natalie Dzerins]

UPDATE: There's now an address to write to CeCe and a list of what's
permitted here:

Chishaun McDonald OID #238072 Minnesota Correctional Facility-St.
Cloud
2305 Minnesota Boulevard S.E.
St. Cloud, MN 56304

Incoming mail must include the recognized legal name and Offender
Identification (OID) number (listed above).Incoming mail may include
paper with words/drawings; signed unmusical, commercial greeting cards
and postcards; photographs (Polaroid photos must have the backing
removed); periodicals and published materials shipped from the
publisher; and clippings or photocopies of published materials that
meet criteria.

Packages will not be accepted and will be returned to the sender.
Photographs will be removed from the envelope and returned to the
inmate at the time of release. Please note that all letters sent to
the jail are opened, read, and inspected by jail staff. Use good sense
about what you say in your letter, and don’t write about anything that

is likely to get you or anyone else in trouble with the cops. Click
here for more information about the DOC’s mailing regulations.

('Click here' link goes here: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/offenders/mail.htm)

So, how do we want to proceed? Group letter or sharing ideas for
individual letters?

Nat

[Maeve]

I think for legal/campaigning letters I would prefer to work as a
group. I don't know enough about the legal system and would want
guidance on what to say. I would be happy to adapt a template and send
it individually though, if that is likely to have extra impact.

I am going to begin composing a personal letter to CeCe, which I will
probably write by hand, as I think that would be a nicer thing to
receive for her.

Maeve

[Natalie Dzerins]

You're definitely right on that. With the legal letters, the official
Support CeCe group are quite specific about what they do and don't
want to campaign for (they asked the circulators of a petition asking
that she be moved prisons to stop, for example - not sure why). I'll
try get in touch with them and see if there's anything we can do from
here/what they want to move forward with. They'll be understandably
busy though, so we might have to wait a while. I propose we leave this
thread dormant until we know what we should do.

Could I ask you to post in the 'individual letters' thread about what
sort of things you're going to talk about? You don't have to mention
anything if you feel it's too personal, or go into too much detail,
but I know that I for one am totally stuck with where to even start.

Nat