Joliet Prisons

Joliet Prisons

Senate passes ban on inmate videotaping

By Emily Wilkerson
Springfield -- Senate lawmakers Thursday took what is likely to be the first of many legislative responses to the infamous Richard Speck video -- one day after a House committee viewed the sexually explicit tape. The Senate unanimously approved legislation making it illegal for inmates to possess video equipment without the consent of a prison warden. Other electronic equipment, such as pagers and cellular telephones, also would be considered contraband under the bill.

A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Corrections said prison rules already prohibit inmates from using videotaping equipment without permission of prison officials. But in light of the highly-publicized Speck video, legislators said they want to make that rule a law. "I think we're sending a signal to them strongly that we want them to give their inmates virtually as few privileges as possible," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, sponsor of the bill.

Wednesday, Odie Washington, director of corrections in Illinois, said prison officials are "embarrassed" over the video that depicts the mass murderer engaging in sex acts with another male inmate and sniffing what appears to be cocaine. The tape was apparently filmed by inmates at Stateville Correctional Center in 1988. Speck was convicted of murder in 1966 for killing eight student nurses. He died of a heart attack in 1991 at the age of 49