Cells of Secrecy - CA

The realities of incarceration in California have been systematically obscured from public view for more than a decade. In 1996, Gov. Pete Wilson imposed a set of emergency measures that continue to limit journalists ability to interview prisoners in the state prison system. Without citing any specific cases, Wilson contended that, Interviews with prisoners tend to glamorize criminal activity and criminals at the cost of pain to crime victims.

The decision was celebrated by victims rights groups, and decried by journalists, lawmakers, and prisoners advocates throughout the state. There never was any emergency, says Peter Sussman, who was president of the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at the time. The emergency was that 60 Minutes did an expose on a prisoner who had been dipped in boiling water by guards at Pelican Bay, and they showed his body covered in burns. Governor Wilson got embarrassed.

The state Senate has proposed legislation to loosen the restrictions seven times since they were first enacted, and each time the governor Wilson, Davis, Schwarzenegger has vetoed the bills on the grounds that they would provide glamour to criminals and trauma to victims.

LA City Beat