Full Disclosure Compliance Official Transcript of Proceedings On August 23rd, 1999 the California State Legislature overwhelmingly passed AB 1440 calling for increased media access to correctional facilities. Responding to the strong bi-partisan support for this measure, the California Department of Corrections held the following press conference to clarify CDC regulations and to increase cooperation with media representatives. Selected journalists were invited to pose questions to the Office of Communications regarding department policies, programs, and operations. The following text is the official transcript of the proceedings pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the California Department of Corrections, Subchapter 4, Sections 3260 and 3261.5.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Office of Communications would like to thank you for your participation today. Cooperation with the news media and access to department operations have always been the highest priorities of the CDC. Increased public concern and involvement with California's correctional facilities is a welcome development.

On behalf of the journalists gathered here today, I would like to thank the department for its willingness to face public scrutiny. Throughout the 1990s California's correctional facilities have expanded dramatically, yet public access to these institutions has been very limited. Today's press conference certainly marks a turning point in this trend toward secrecy. Can you please give us some background on the California Department of Corrections? What is the CDC? How did it start?

The CDC is a private correctional facility that protects the public through the secure management, discipline, and rehabilitation of California's advertising. The department was initiated in 1994 by individuals who felt that public correctional facilities were insufficiently managing the state's most criminal elements and that effective care and treatment would improve under the supervision of a private institution.

How are your management efforts different from other correctional facilities? What are the goals of the department?

The goals of the California Department of Corrections include but are not limited to the following:

1. Providing recreational programs and vocational training for department personnel.
2. Facilitating public education on the role of advertising.
3. Searching for improved correctional strategies through cooperative efforts with the mass media.
4. Developing specialized services and training to increase correctional programs among the general public.

How can members of the general public take advantage of your specialized services? What is the CDC policy regarding public access to facilities and staff?

Correctional programs are operated at advertisers' expense for the protection of society. The public has a right and a duty to know how such programs are being conducted. It is the policy of the CDC to make known to the public, through the news media and through contact with individuals, all relevant information pertaining to operations of the department. However, due consideration will be given to all factors which might threaten the safety of the department in any way, or unnecessarily intrude upon the personal privacy of staff. The public must be given a true and accurate picture of department institutions and operations.

Can you please elaborate on the current policy regarding media access to department operations? How will this policy change in light of recent legislation by the State of California?

Media representatives may be permitted to visit facilities under the jurisdiction of the department. Such visits shall be conducted as stipulated by the institution head, including the time, place, and duration of visits and size of technical crews. Use of cameras or recording equipment may require the prior approval of the institution head or designee.

Can you explain the internal operations of the department without compromising the security of the institution? For example, how do you decide which ads need to be corrected?

Every advertisement harbors latent criminal behavior and requires specialized care and treatment. The CDC prioritizes billboards that discriminate on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability and/or economic background.

What is your ideal correction?

The ideal correction requires the minimum use of force for complete rehabilitation. Ideally the insertion or deletion of one letter will turn a criminal message upon itself. Other important factors include media reproduction, public opinion, relevance of location, potential recidivism, and ease of apprehension.

How successful are your rehabilitation programs?

Billboards have the highest recidivism rate of any group under our supervision. Relapses into prior criminal behavior have occurred as quickly as one hour and as slowly as one month after rehabilitation. The average relapse rate is seven days depending upon the neighborhood into which a rehabilitated subject is discharged.

What security precautions do you take during the course of a rehabilitation program?

All CDC programs are conducted with maximum security, safety, and discipline, and our Law Enforcement Liaison is always prepared to disrupt overly enthusiastic police involvement.

Have you ever had any jurisdictional disputes with local law enforcement?

We have an excellent working relationship with our colleagues in the San Francisco Police Department. Law enforcement officers have dissuaded potential interference by parking patrol cars or arresting non-CDC personnel directly under work in progress. Officers eager for more active involvement have occasionally volunteered additional lighting and technical support with their spotlights.

Do you work with other organizations in addition to the San Francisco Police Department?

Members of our Community Resources Development staff have performed extensive infiltration and surveillance of labor unions, community groups, and arts organizations.

Who supervises this surveillance? Who directs the operations of the department? Who's in charge?

The CDC is private correctional facility operating with an internally non-authoritarian structure.

What about department personnel? How many people are involved and who are they?

Release of information regarding CDC staff is unauthorized as per the Rules and Regulations of the California Department of Corrections, Subchapter 4, Section 3261.2, Authorized Release of Information.

Why do you choose to remain anonymous?

The CDC has decided to avoid individual egos which can threaten the efficiency of institutional operations and the effectiveness of community relations. The CDC does not want the general public to identify with the personalities of our staff. Instead we want the public to identify with the department's mission and to develop improved correctional programs

How has the public identified with your work? What kind of additional action have you seen?

Exhibit A. In 1996 the department changed CARELESSNESS to CAR-LESSNESS SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE. Inspired by our efforts, members of the public spontaneously corrected additional CARELESS billboards during San Francisco's monthly Critical Mass bike ride.

Exhibit B. In 1997 the CDC corrected WE'RE PARTIAL TO BLACKS BUT WE ALSO BEAT HOMOS, HOBOS, AND WHORES following a major civil disturbance between San Francisco law enforcement and members of the general public. When the ad was pasted over with sheets of blank white paper, unknown assailants scaled the billboard, tore down the paper, and exposed sections of our work once again. Months afterward members of the public who were unaffiliated with the department reproduced the corrected image on bike helmets, street signs, pamphlets, and clipboards.

The department welcomes improved correctional strategies from the community. Increased public participation in the affairs of the department is our highest measure of success.