What type of mail is allowed to be opened and read by prison staff?

The correct answer focuses on non-privileged mail, which is indeed subject to inspection and reading by prison staff. Non-privileged mail refers to correspondence that does not contain confidential legal communication or privileged content that would generally be protected by legal privacy standards. This type of mail can include letters from friends, general letters, and other communications that do not fall under the strict confidentiality rules of privileged or legal mail.

Prison regulations allow staff to review this type of correspondence for security reasons, such as ensuring the safety of the inmate population and preventing the introduction of contraband or illegal activities. Because non-privileged mail does not have the same level of confidentiality as legal or privileged mail, inmates have a reduced expectation of privacy with these communications, enabling staff to monitor for potentially harmful content.

On the other hand, legal mail and privileged mail are designed to protect the rights of inmates to communicate with their attorneys and other legal representatives without interference, hence they are not opened or read by prison staff. Incoming mail from family members can sometimes include privileged communications, especially if it relates to legal matters, making it subject to those same protections.