Virginia Prison's Reading Policy Overturned, the right to tap into Ireland's unsung subconscious upheld

The regulation forbids explicit descriptions of sexual acts, including "actual sexual intercourse" and sexual acts that violate state or federal law. "But the number of highly regarded books which include a description of actual sexual intercourse is vast," Turk wrote, "Beyond Ulysses and Lady Chatterley's Lover," the Court could list dozens of the highly regarded works of literature which include an explicit description of a sexual act or intercourse..."

[Doug's Note: The article goes on to list books, potentially including the Bible, that would be banned but points out that more soft-core books like Playboy would still be protected and available. At least that heathen Penthouse would presumably be banned.]

Prison officials argued that sexually explicit materials "are considered valuable currency and used in bartering" by inmates, and that the possession of such items can lead to theft and fights. [and now for the best bit...] "Particularly with respect to Ulysses it is impossible to even imagine prison inmates fighting for the chance to delve into the incredibly difficult to decipher novel, one metaphor-laden scene of which portrays exhibitionist behavior and masturbation," Turk wrote.