In the Matter of Dennis Sobin (vending prison reform materials)

Dennis Sobin, head of The Prisons Foundation, was repeatedly threatened with arrest for selling materials related to his sidewalk advocacy for prison reform. We believe he has a right to sell them, without a vending permit, under a D.C. law that permits the sale of relevant materials as part of a lawful assembly.

In September 2007, after pre-litigation negotiations, the government agreed to give Mr. Sobin a letter saying that his conduct is lawful, to provide remedial training on this issue to D.C. police officers and vending inspectors, and to pay him $3,000 in damages.

But in 2009, the government asserted that a new vending statute required Mr. Sobin to get a permit. We worked with the D.C. Council to add language to the vending law making it clear that the prior statute remained controlling.