THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 1996 TAG: 9609170005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 46 lines
In your recent news story regarding media access to prisons (``Behind Closed Doors: What's going on in Virginia's prisons?'' Sept. 3), you neglected to point out that no one's First Amendment rights are being violated. You say the Virginia Department of Corrections is denying the public access to information about what is happening in prisons to shield officials from accountability. That is not only blatantly untrue, but unfair.
The department works tirelessly to facilitate telephone interviews with inmates, provide corrections-related data for both the public and press and be pro-active in accommodating the public and media's needs.
The department is not avoiding ``inconvenient scrutiny'' but being accountable to the taxpayer. Just because a reporter feels they should have carte blanche access to inmates in prisons doesn't make it appropriate. Accommodating reporters' needs in a slightly different way than they would prefer doesn't mean the department is hiding anything or violating First Amendment rights.
In fact, many other states are following Virginia's lead when it comes to media access to prisons. Inmates have access to phones. They can write letters. They have radios and televisions and can tune into newscasts. Reporters have been able to get the necessary information to complete their articles.
When a reporter interviews me, often it's by phone, not in person. If they were honest, it's actually more convenient for all parties. What makes interviewing an inmate any different?
Bringing reporters into prisons means the security staff has to be pulled away from maintaining order and control of that institution. Inmates will use anything out of the ordinary to act out. Allowing inmates this opportunity isn't good security policy. It makes even less sense when you know the same thing can be accomplished with a phone interview.
Yes, a lot of taxpayer dollars go toward the state's prison system. And the taxpayers deserve and expect tightly run, efficient, safe and secure facilities - of which Virginia is leading the nation. They don't expect us to parade reporters through prisons at all hours and put security at risk, especially when sufficient mechanisms are already in place to accommodate the media's needs.
BRUCE MORRIS
Deputy secretary of public safety
Commonwealth of Virginia
Richmond, Sept. 5, 1996 by CNB