28 CFR § 540.20 - Inmate correspondence with representatives of the news media.
---identifier: "/us/cfr/t28/s540.20"source: "ecfr"legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"title: "28 CFR § 540.20 - Inmate correspondence with representatives of the news media."title_number: 28title_name: "Judicial Administration"section_number: "540.20"section_name: "Inmate correspondence with representatives of the news media."chapter_name: "BUREAU OF PRISONS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE"subchapter_number: "C"subchapter_name: "INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT"part_number: "540"part_name: "CONTACT WITH PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITY"positive_law: falsecurrency: "2026-03-24"last_updated: "2026-03-24"format_version: "1.1.0"generator: "[email protected]"authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 551, 552a; 18 U.S.C. 1791, 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Sec. 12003(c)."cfr_part: "540"---
Identifier
/us/cfr/t28/s540.20
Currency
2026-03-24
Positive Law
No
Updated
2026-03-24
Chapter
Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice
Authority
5 U.S.C. 301; 551, 552a; 18 U.S.C. 1791, 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to o... 5 U.S.C. 301; 551, 552a; 18 U.S.C. 1791, 3621, 3622, 3624, 4001, 4042, 4081, 4082 (Repealed in part as to offenses committed on or after November 1, 1987), 5006-5024 (Repealed October 12, 1984 as to offenses committed after that date), 5039; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510; Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Sec. 12003(c).
# 540.20 Inmate correspondence with representatives of the news media.(a) An inmate may write through “special mail” to representatives of the news media specified by name or title (see § 540.2(b)).(b) The inmate may not receive compensation or anything of value for correspondence with the news media. The inmate may not act as reporter.(c) Representatives of the news media may initiate correspondence with an inmate. Staff shall open incoming correspondence from representatives of the media and inspect for contraband, for its qualification as media correspondence, and for content which is likely to promote either illegal activity or conduct contrary to Bureau regulations.[50 FR 40109, Oct. 1, 1985, as amended at 75 FR 21164, Apr. 23, 2010]