State Defends New Camera Ban For Prison Interviews

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton's administration says a new ban on cameras for prison inmate interviews is meant to shield crime victims from harmful images of their assailants.

Television stations and journalism organizations are crying foul over the ban on still and video cameras. The Department of Corrections changed its policy in February but it was only recently unveiled by the Star Tribune.

Gov. Mark Dayton and Department of Corrections Commissioner Tom Roy defended the change Wednesday. They'll still allow access for interviews — just without the cameras.

Roy says it wasn't prompted by a particular incident but general concern about victims. He also says images on the Internet may hinder a former prisoner's rehabilitation.

Minnesota Newspaper Association attorney Mark Anfinson says the administration's rationale doesn't outweigh the importance of those images.

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