Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 25, 1994 TAG: 9403250114
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FAIRFAX LENGTH: Short
Sheriff Carl Peed said he unplugged the popular cable music video channel two months ago to make the Fairfax jail a "less hostile" place for the women who live and work there.
Peed said he also was concerned that "gangsta rap" lyrics promote violence and disrespect for the law.
"We wanted to make this a neutral environment," said Chief Deputy Sheriff James Vickery. "These videos, can they be detrimental? I think they can."
Prisoners say removing MTV was unfair to the mostly young, often minority men who make up the bulk of the jail population.
"They cut off the MTV when they started showing a lot of black videos. When it was rock 'n' roll, it was OK," said Steve, a 26-year-old inmate who would not give his last name.
"I truly think it was a racially motivated thing."
Sheriff's officials say the music videos caused a number of disruptions in the jail.
"It was the cause of a lot of fights," Vickery said. And, "they were preaching that hate-the-police thing."
But officials' primary concern was "nudity, the sex attitudes that can pervade an atmosphere," Vickery said.
Vickery hopes the MTV ban might motivate some inmates away from the television entirely.
"I'm hoping that there will be someone who says, `My God, if I can't watch MTV I might as well get into Bible study or GED study."
The jail offers help for inmates who want to earn their high school equivalency, or GED, certificate.
by CNB