READING, Pa., May 8 (UPI) -- A Berks County, Pa., correctional officer's recent photo spread in Playboy magazine has reignited debate regarding a ban on adult magazines for many inmates.
The debate arose following the recent dismissal of corrections officer Heather Hull for her appearance in Playboy and the constitutionality of state and county regulations regarding pornographic publications has come into play, the Reading (Pa.) Eagle said.
State officials banned adult magazines in Pennsylvania prisons in 2006, but currently inmates in Berks County Prison are permitted access to the materials.
Berks County Prison Warden George A. Wagner defended his decision to allow inmates of the county prison system to have adult magazines saying regulations banning the publications could prove unconstitutional.
"We allow the magazines because we don't want lawsuits," Wagner said. "We try to stay out of court."
Meanwhile, union officials have challenged the dismissal of Hull for nude photo spread in Playboy's March issue. They told the Eagle that Hull should have been allowed to keep her job since she never mentioned the prison in the magazine.
