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| Assembly OKs bill easing media access to prison inmates |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 05/31/2004 |
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Legislation to make it easier for the news media to interview prison inmates was approved last Wednesday by the Calif. state Assembly. By a 44-32 vote, the Assembly sent to the Senate a bill that would replace regulations adopted during the administration of Republican Gov. Pete Wilson that critics say make it difficult to question specific inmate and learn what's going on behind prison walls. Under the regulations, the Department of Corrections refuses to arrange one-on-one interviews for reporters with inmates. The rules allow reporters to question prisoners they encounter during a prison tour. To interview a particular inmate, a reporter must write to the prisoner and ask the inmate to call collect or to be put on the inmate's list of approved visitors. Once on an inmate's list of visitors, the reporter can see the prisoner during regular visiting hours but can be barred from bringing in cameras, tape recorders, notebooks and pens and pencils. Prison officials contend the restrictions are needed to maintain security and prevent the glorification of convicted criminals. The bill by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would enable reporters to become "approved visitors" at a prison without going through the process of getting on a particular inmate's list of visitors. Once given that status, the reporter could interview any prisoner at the prison who was entitled to have visitors and was willing to be questioned. The approved visitor status would have to be renewed every year. Reporters would allow be able to bring in pens, pencils and papers, but they would need permission from prison officials to bring in cameras and tape recorders. Leno said the bill "strikes a balance between the public's right to know ... and security concerns" of the Department of Corrections. The Senate has approved a broader bill by Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, under which the department would once again arrange prisoner interviews for reporters and allow them to bring in writing materials, cameras and tape recorders. |
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