Tuesday, January 31, 2023

CALIFORNIA PRISON ACCESS 

 By Bob Walsh

 

A Department of Corrections officer guards the main entryway leading into San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, Calif., July 24, 2019.  

The formerly great state of California is very restrictive when it comes to access to prison facilities for the media, even members of the legislature and other busy-bodies.

SB254, just introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-San Francisco / Berkeley) would force the DOCR to allow visits by legislative types and media freaks, with recording equipment, to both jails and prisons (which due to "realignment" are largely interchangeable).  It would also bar staff from monitoring interviews with prisoners.  This bill will be the tenth effort in almost 30 years to force the prison system to open itself up.

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