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News10 ABC
Prison Guards' Union Unveils $1 Million Media Campaign

DATE: May 3, 2004

California's prisons are under fire for alleged prisoner abuse and criticized for cost overruns. Now the state's prison guards are fighting back by launching a $1 million media campaign.

The program called "Hard Time," produced by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, portrays the the job of a prison guards as "the toughest beat in California." However, some lawmakers claim it's just an attempt at damage control over alleged inmate abuse.

Corrections officer Suzi Jones is featured in the campaign. In March, Jones was attacked and savagely beaten by an inmate while she made the rounds at Folsom State Prison.

"Nothing tells the story more persuasively than a Polaroid picture of Officer Jones shortly after she was beaten by an inmate," said Ray McNally, public relations director of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. "It's very disturbing."

According to the CCPOA, nine officers a day are typically attacked within prison walls, but the state's 31,000 prison guards are getting nothing but a bad rap from the news media.

"You never read about those assaults in the newspaper, you never see anything about those assaults on the television news," said McNally.

The CCPOA came under intense fire recently after video of alleged prisoner abuse surfaced. During hearings at the Capitol, lawmakers heard further testimony about guards invoking a code of silence to protect colleagues involved in questionable activities.

Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, who has built a reputation challenging the Department of Corrections sees the union's campaign as politicking.

"This is part of damage control that's taking place even as the Legislature is awaiting budget reforms and budgeting issues that pertain to their contract as well," said Romero.

Romero says she is upset that officers like Suzi Jones are being attacked, but she added the CCPOA media campaign may obscure "the scandals that are taking place in both adult and youth corrections."

The CCPOA approached News10 to buy a 30-minute slot to broadcast its program, but the station declined. News10 management said it is station policy not to sell half-hour programming blocks to advocacy groups.

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