Dayton Backs New Camera Ban For Media Interviews In Prisons

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton says he stands behind a new policy instituted by the Department of Corrections that bans the use of media cameras for interviews of inmates conducted in Minnesota prisons.

Dayton said Tuesday he trusts the judgment of his agency commissioner and steps he's taking to assure security in state prisons. Dayton said he wasn't notified in advance of the media policy quietly adopted in February, which was disclosed Sunday in a Star Tribune story.

He plans to urge Commissioner Tom Roy to publicly discuss his reasoning.

Previously, news crews could photograph and videotape interviews of inmates as long as the inmate consented and prison officials granted prior approval.

The new policy still permits reporters to bring some audio recording devices and writing instruments if the Corrections Department approves.

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