Constitutional Law

Miss. TV station barred from airing abuse video

By By The Associated Press

HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? A Youth Court judge has ruled that Hattiesburg television station WDAM cannot broadcast video it acquired of alleged abuse at the Forrest County Juvenile Detention Center.

Youth Court Judge Mike McPhail on Jan. 11 upheld an earlier injunction he issued that barred WDAM from showing the video.

Jackson attorney Leonard Van Slyke, a First Amendment lawyer who represents the station, told the Associated Press that WDAM was ?considering its options? for further appeal.

WDAM had challenged the judge?s previous injunction. McPhail ruled Jan. 11 that WDAM had failed to provide evidence of a need in showing the video.

Van Slyke said the tapes are a matter of public interest and that the station has a First Amendment right to air them.

McPhail had said the video would jeopardize juvenile privacy, while Van Slyke said privacy would be protected.

WDAM has reported that a former employee of the detention center said the video shows alleged abuse of juveniles at the hands of guards. The station has reported that the sheriff?s office confirms one guard was fired in 2009 for beating a juvenile, but so far no charges have been filed.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on January 12, 2011 (boomark / email).