Greene

This consolidated appeal asks us to consider the constitutionality of the Nevada Department of Corrections’ (“NDOC”) policy prohibiting inmates’ personal possession of typewriters. NDOC inmates, Travers A. Greene, Paul Browning, and Jimmy Earl Downs, appeal pro se the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the NDOC. We conclude that the ban does not violate the inmates’ constitutional rights and, accordingly, affirm the decision of the district court.

I. Background

In December 2006, Douglas Potter, an inmate at Ely State Prison (“ESP”), murdered another inmate in his cell. The local sheriffs department investigated the crime. The murder weapon was determined to be a roller pin from an inmate-owned typewriter. In March 2007, an inmate attempted to stab a correctional officer. Once again, the weapon was a piece of an inmate-owned typewriter.

Shortly after these attacks, the NDOC enacted a ban on inmate possession of typewriters at ESP. In May 2007, the NDOC made the ban system-wide, and notified all inmates that it would be adding typewriters to the list of items prohibited from possession. Inmates who possessed typewriters had the option of shipping the…