Skinner bill that would grant media better access to prisons awaits governor’s signature

by Kiley Russell, Bay City News September 3, 2024August 30, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with incarcerated journalists during a news conference at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center on March 17, 2023. A bill authored by State Sen. Nancy Skinner that would improve media access to prisons and those incarcerated is headed to Newsom's desk for consideration this month. (San Quentin News via Bay City News)

A bill that would allow greater media access to California prisons is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for a possible signature.

Senate Bill 254 from state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, would also open the prison system to legislators and other state officials, including the governor, in order to improve transparency and oversight.

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Kiley Russell, Bay City News

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

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