Senate passes Prison Media Access Bill

Senate passes Prison Media Access Bill

On June 12, prisoners’ families and prison reform advocates demonstrated on the capitol steps in Sacramento to urge the lifting of the media ban, which prevents press access to report on prison conditions. They succeeded in persuading the legislature; now the bill, AB 1270, awaits Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature. – Photo: Urszula Wislanka

Sacramento – The California Senate passed AB 1270 by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano on Wednesday, Aug. 29, sending the bill on prison media openness to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature. The bill would restore the conditions that existed before 1996, the year that state corrections officials cut down on reporters’ ability to report directly on prison circumstances.