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What were they thinking!?
Brad Bumsted is a state Capitol reporter for the Tribune-Review. He can be contacted via e-mail or at 717-787-1405.
Cable network VH1 was airing a documentary featuring inmates at Graterford State Prison near Philadelphia performing in a heavy metal band, “Dark Mischief.” One of the inmates, Christopher Bissey, was convicted of killing two teenage girls at Lehigh University seven years ago. One of the girl’s mothers recently was channel surfacing and saw her daughter’s killer on a promo for the documentary.
These violent criminals are serving time at a state prison, paid for with state taxpayers dollars. Why should a woman who lost her daughter have to go through this? What about the other victim’s families?
“Dark mischief”?
As much as anyone, Gov. Mark Schweiker was incredulous and horrified. Out of the public eye, he went ballistic. How did these guys get amplifiers, electric guitars, drums and other items needed for a heavy metal band? How could officials at Graterford allow it?
The documentary already was in the can. The state asked VH1 that it not be aired. That starts to tread on the Constitution, specifically the First Amendment.
The series will show inmates in prisons across the country participating in music programs. The segment featuring the Graterford band had been slated to air Friday night.
But how could it happen in the first place? What can be done to prevent it from happening again? Who is responsible for it?
There were nine inmates in the band. Among them were three convicted murderers. One “broke into a home and killed a senior citizen,” Schweiker said. Another was involved in a drive-by shooting, according to Schweiker.
Two murderers are featured on the show.
Schweiker’s first step was a rule requiring that the Corrections Department inform the state Office of the Victim Advocate whenever a reporter or television producer enters the jail to cover a prison program. The advocate’s office will notify victims’ families, as it does now when parole is pending for an inmate. Next, he suspended the music program at Graterford and demanded a systemwide review of prison programs.
Schweiker also planned to call victims’ family members.
State Rep. T.J. Rooney, a Bethlehem Democrat, sponsored a state House resolution – already approved — asking the cable network to donate profits from the episode to the victim advocates’ office.
“While I understand the show will air in an act of free speech, it is a deplorable example of not respecting the family of the victim,” Rooney said.
Rooney said he had no problem with the “airing of the show nor the band’s existence.”
No problem with the “band’s existence?”
Some argue that it is better to let an inmate play a saxophone, to let off steam, rather then, say, slice someone’s throat. It's arguable that there may be some value in a carefully monitored and limited music program.
Others would argue that it is a luxury that few there deserve.
But the idea of a heavy metal band at an institution that historically has housed the most hardened convicted murders and lifers in Pennsylvania?
Give me a break.
There needs to be a common sense test applied to who participates and the precise nature of prison programs.
Schweiker is ultimately responsible and to his credit, he stepped up to the plate to deal with it. But a governor also can’t be expected to know the specifics of each prison’s programs.The people who work for him should know the details.
I’m just amazed that Schweiker hasn’t fired the prison and department officials responsible for this outrageous fiasco.
The only heavy metal allowed at Graterford should be reinforced steel to keep these predators locked up.
The Associated Press contributed to this column.
