Three of the most infamous prison riots in the United States occurred in Attica, New York; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Lucasville, Ohio in 1971, 1980, and 1993, respectively. These three prison riots were selected for study because they represent not only the deadliest and longest prison riots in U.S. history, but also span three decades and occurred in three different regions of the country, thus offering an opportunity for multiple comparisons. Each prison shared common conditions that played a part in triggering the riots, but there were also unique circumstances that differentiate the three. Data for this study were obtained from various kinds of documents published following each riot and included information from the criminology literature as well as media and investigative reports. At Attica, the roles of newspaper journalists were critical. A key issue raised then, and still unresolved after decades, is the position of journalists who cross over to become negotiators: On whose behalf are they acting? and Does a journalist cease to be a reporter when acting in support of authorities? At Santa Fe, the television coverage inflamed the riot and was conducted in an atmosphere of antagonism between journalists and authorities. A second key issue is this apparent conflict of interests between journalists' First Amendment rights and authorities' need to control strategic information. Their common interests to inform the public and to discourage further prison violence may be overlooked. At Lucasville, reporters' roles as media representatives and public servants were in conflict. Authorities expected journalists to video the entire take back of the institution, but networks had other commitments. By calling for continuous broadcasting, officials were not considering commercial or other news and entertainment demands. Cooperation is a third key issue that was in conflict in the three riots. The cooperation of the media is far more useful to officials than their authority to exercise control over the media to coerce their compliance. Further research is needed to better understand the most appropriate role of the news media in prison riots. 3 notes and 46 references
Media and Mayhem in Corrections: The Role of the Media in Prison Riots
NCJ Number
172594
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 76 Issue: 4 Dated: December 1996 Pages: 420-441
Date Published
1996
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the influence and effect of media coverage on prison riots based on what was learned from the participation of the media in the Attica, Santa Fe, and Lucasville prison uprisings.
Abstract