Controversial VH1 show films at SCI-Greene
VH1’s controversial “Music Behind Bars’ documentary series will feature the State Correctional Institution at Greene (SCI-Greene) near Waynesburg in an upcoming episode. A spokeswoman for VH1 in New York City said no airdate has yet been set for the show, which is the last of an eight-part television series that features inmates involved in music programs in prisons across the United States.
“That one is the last on the production calendar,’ she explained, saying, however, that the episode will be aired before the end of 2002.
Sharon D’Eletto, public information officer for SCI-Greene, said the show sent a crew to the prison Sept. 18-20 to film staff and musicians participating in the music education program.
“I know they were here three days and did something like 30 hours worth of filming, but I don’t know what their focus is going to be,’ she said.
The VH1 spokeswoman also could not say what the focal point of the story is or which inmates will be emphasized, since the episode is still in post-production.
Other episodes of “Music Behind Bars’ have featured particular inmates. For example, the VH1 Web site notes the Nov. 5 episode at Mount Olive Correctional Complex in West Virginia will feature Tony Morrison and Jason Henthorne, two inmates serving life sentences for murder. Morrison’s R&B band, Midnight Love, and Henthorne’s country band, Dakota, are among the 14 musical groups at the prison, the Web site reported.
Other prisons mentioned on the Web site include Kentucky State Reformatory, New Hampshire State Prison for Women and the State Correctional Institution at Graterford (SCI-Graterford) near Philadelphia.
The Graterford episode kicked off the series Oct. 18 and started a controversy even before the episode aired. It featured the band Dark Mischief, which included inmate Christopher Bissey, who is serving time for killin two teen-age girls at Lehigh University in 1995.
When promotions for the show began playing on VH1, the mother of one of the girls saw them as she was flipping through channels on her television and complained. Other crime victims said the series glamorized violent criminals.
In response, Susan McNaughton, acting press secretary for the state Department of Corrections in Harrisburg, said the state is reviewing its media policy because of sensitivity to victims.
“We’re changing our media policy and working with the Office of Victim Advocate before allowing media to interview inmates,’ said McNaughton, noting the state wants “to make sure that victims are not caught off guard.’
McNaughton also said the state has shut down the music program at Graterford and is looking at all music programs across the state.
The music program is part of the state’s education program to prepare inmates for life after prison. McNaughton said 90 percent of inmates return home.
“All inmates have to read at an eighth-grade level or go to school,’ said McNaughton.
Only those who can read at this level are able to obtain jobs. In addition to school and work, the state offers drug and alcohol programs for inmates.
McNaughton explained the music program is meant to help inmates by teaching them to use their free time constructively.
But she noted some members of the public don’t believe that people serving life in prison should be able to participate.
“We’re looking at the types of inmates participating in these programs,’ McNaughton said.
The VH1 spokeswoman said the idea for “Music Behind Bars’ “came from a producer who knew these programs existed and that they reduce recidivism by 40 to 50 percent and thought it would be an interesting way to show the redemptive powers of music.’
She said the prisons chosen for the series were elected by the quality of their music programs, “which ones worked when it comes to rehabilitating prisoners.’
According to the VH1 Web site description of the show, “Gritty and groundbreaking, ‘Music Behind Bars’ reveals the incredible true stories of bands behind bars and explores the redemptive power of music.
The show is hosted by Dylan McDermott, Golden Globe-winning actor of the television series “The Practice” and is produced by Oscar-winning producer Arnold Shapiro.
According to VH1, the show takes “a decidedly unglamorous look at (inmates’) lives, their crimes and their subsequent incarcerations.’
VH1 staff was not prepared for the controversy that met the series.
“I think we were a little surprised at how out of control it was before the show aired,’ said the spokeswoman. “People decided what side they were on before they saw the show.’
The spokeswoman said that VH1 is concerned about the victims’ families. Notifying the families, however, is being handled on a state-by-state basis, depending on how the prisons deal with these situations.
In the Graterford case, which touched off the controversy, the spokeswoman said that Bissey was not a focal point of the story and was on screen just a short time.