A federal judge tosses a lawsuit over the ban on recorded inmate interviews in South Carolina
Associated PressCOLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit trying to overturn the South Carolina prison system’s banning on-camera, in-person interviews with inmates or recording their phone calls for broadcast. But in a ruling last week, federal Judge Jacquelyn Austin said the government can restrict free speech rights in areas it controls that aren’t public and the media doesn’t have special rights to access prisoners. Prison officials said it protects victims of crime so the perpetrators don’t get fame and notoriety and keeps prisons safer because inmates can’t send coded messages through interviews. While they can’t go on camera, prison officials said South Carolina inmates can write to anyone, including reporters, and inmates who can’t afford stamps or stationery can get them.
History of this topic
South Carolina bans inmates from in-person interviews. A lawsuit wants to change that
Hindustan TimesSouth Carolina bans inmates from in-person interviews. A lawsuit wants to change that
Associated PressDiscover Related
