FAC Supports Bill that Would Reopen California Prisons and Jails to Journalists
Senate Bill 254 would ensure journalists have meaningful access to California prisons and local jails and the ability to seek interviews with incarcerated people.
Senate Bill 254 would ensure journalists have meaningful access to California prisons and local jails and the ability to seek interviews with incarcerated people.
The brief highlights the chilling effect of the statute on freedom of the press, noting that the government has already targeted journalists who cover migration and listing numerous examples of reporting or commentary that might trigger an overzealous prosecution under the statute.
These journalists strategically used public records to expose government misconduct and accountability failures.
Contact: fac@firstamendmentcoalition.org The First Amendment Coalition is calling for immediate dismissal of charges against Victorville City Council Member Blanca Gomez, who was removed from the council’s meeting on February 21, 2023, arrested, and booked into jail. FAC Legal Director David Loy sent a letter to the city council, copied to the San Bernardino County District Attorney and others, explaining why the removal and arrest raise serious concerns under the First Amendment and Brown Act, which
A Guide to California’s Open Meeting Law Changes for 2023 The California Legislature passed four bills in 2022 changing aspects of state open-meetings laws. Notably, lawmakers increased the ability of members of both local and state bodies to participate remotely — pandemic-inspired policy that set off debates about whether such increased flexibility for public officials would result in less accountability to the public. Additional changes include a bill that allows the presiding member of a