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Jailed Novelist In Trouble For Having Too Many Stamps
WRAL-TV ^ | September 12, 2006

Posted on 09/12/2006 2:36:12 PM PDT by NCjim

NASHVILLE, N.C. -- Convicted murderer Michael Peterson has received a minor prison infraction for having too many postage stamps, a state Department of Correction spokesman said.

Stamps are a hot commodity behind bars, according to spokesman Keith Acree, because prisoners use them for trading and bartering.

Indigent inmates used to receive, all at once, 10 stamps a month, but because too many inmates were using them for other purposes, the policy was changed. Now, inmates get one stamp about every three days.

A former Durham newspaper columnist and novelist, Peterson was declared indigent in October 2003 after he was convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson. She was found dead at the bottom of a staircase inside the couple's Durham mansion in December 2001.

Peterson is still at the Nash Correctional Institution, where he is serving a life sentence and awaiting a decision from the North Carolina Court of Appeals on his murder conviction.

At one point, the one-time millionaire earned $1 a day teaching GED classes to other inmates. Acree said that Peterson lost his teaching assistant position because of the infraction, which is a standard practice, even for a minor problem.

The possession of "no-threat contraband" is Peterson's first infraction since he was admitted into the state's prison system on Oct. 10, 2003. He did spend nearly a month in solitary confinement in early 2004, but prison officials would not ever say exactly why he was placed there.

(Excerpt) Read more at wral.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: michaelpeterson
When stamps are outlawed, only outlaws will have stamps.
1 posted on 09/12/2006 2:36:13 PM PDT by NCjim
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To: NCjim

OK....what other use can be found for a stamp?


2 posted on 09/12/2006 2:38:16 PM PDT by digger48
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To: NCjim
I never realized that there were so many philatelists in jail.
3 posted on 09/12/2006 2:40:09 PM PDT by escapefromboston (manny ortez: mvp)
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To: digger48

I seem to recall the old lick stamps were used with a drop of LSD or whatever on them.


4 posted on 09/12/2006 2:41:07 PM PDT by geopyg (If the carrot doesn't work, use the stick. Don't wish for peace, pray for Victory.)
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To: digger48; Alia

He started his very own Lickit&Stickit program, a spin-off of the state's Clickit or Ticket program, which upset state officials.


5 posted on 09/12/2006 2:41:28 PM PDT by azhenfud (an enigma between parentheses)
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To: digger48
OK....what other use can be found for a stamp?

In a place like a prison stamps could become a defacto form of currency. If they are earning a dollar a day, then a stamp represents a third of a day's work.

6 posted on 09/12/2006 2:42:21 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (The California Republican Party needs Arnold the way a drowning man needs an anvil.)
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To: digger48
OK....what other use can be found for a stamp?

They can be used as currency behind bars for other things.

7 posted on 09/12/2006 2:44:39 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Property tax is feudalism. Income taxes are armed robbery of the minority by the majority.)
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To: escapefromboston

I think he should have to register as a stamp abuser when he gets out. Everyone should be able to look him up on the internet. He should not be able to live within half a mile of a post office.


8 posted on 09/12/2006 2:48:14 PM PDT by Revel
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To: digger48
OK....what other use can be found for a stamp?

You used to be able to pay bills with them. Not in prison, but outside.

Seriously.

I can recall when utility companies began printing on their bills “do not send cash or stamps."

Before that you could pay utilities and certain retailers (Sears was one – Montgomery Wards was another) in postage stamps for mail order stuff.

That might’ve been before your time though… prison uses them for that purpose, evidently.

9 posted on 09/12/2006 2:49:33 PM PDT by Who dat?
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To: Centurion2000; ElkGroveDan
This line kinda made me think there might be something other than that

Indigent inmates used to receive, all at once, 10 stamps a month, but because too many inmates were using them for other purposes, the policy was changed. Now, inmates get one stamp about every three days.

10 posted on 09/12/2006 2:49:35 PM PDT by digger48
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To: NCjim
Image hosted by Photobucket.com why give then stamps AT ALL???

put the damn stamp on it in the mail room AFTER the convict gives it to you for mailing. sheeesh... it's NOT rocket science.

11 posted on 09/12/2006 3:21:32 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Chode
Considering the Michael Peterson's motivation for bludgeoning his wife was her discovery and revulsion at this bisexuality, he could be trading stamps for service. He is a thoroughly despicable POS and should get snuffed in prison before nature takes it's toll./p>
12 posted on 09/12/2006 3:42:44 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: escapefromboston
I never realized that there were so many philatelists in jail.

Hang the philatelists, that way there will be no repeat philatelists.

philatelism must be stopped!

13 posted on 09/12/2006 3:44:02 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: digger48
OK....what other use can be found for a stamp?

Fractional currency - if you pay for something in cash, you can use stamps instead of change.

Maven
Daughter of a stamp dealer. Was once herself a philatelist against her will.
14 posted on 09/12/2006 10:56:18 PM PDT by Maven ("I can kill you with my brain" - River Tam, "Firefly")
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