NCJ Number
170478
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1998) Pages: 34-36
Date Published
1998
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The airing of a Richard Speck tape in May 1996 was a public relations disaster for the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC), and the department had to adopt several measures to counter the negative publicity.
Abstract
Richard Speck was convicted of murdering eight student nurses in Chicago in the 1960's. Because he died in 1991 and the videotape itself was at least 10 years, DOC officials felt it would have no long-term effect on the department and made no special efforts to prepare for the videotape's release. A Chicago television station promoted interest in the videotape as a major news event to hike ratings for its local newscast. The Speck videotape became viewed as irrefutable evidence of the DOC's failure to manage the State prison system. In retrospect, the DOC determined it grossly underestimated the public's reaction to the videotape. Further, the DOC did not initially investigate the circumstances under which the videotape was made or how it was smuggled out of prison. In failing to recognize motivations behind the videotape, the DOC had to deal with public impressions that the department was corrupt and out of control. The DOC denounced the behavior shown on the videotape, the image of a notorious criminal "enjoying" himself, and emphasized such behavior was not representative of inmate life in the DOC. The DOC also pointed out the videotape was made for a specific purpose, to make money off the notoriety of Speck. The overall strategy adopted by the DOC to counter criticisms had three components: (1) the DOC sought to get its story on the Speck issue into the public discourse through a series of meetings with editorial boards around the State and interviews with reporters; (2) the DOC developed a team of executive staff charged with responding rapidly and thoroughly to emerging allegations and criticisms of the department; and (3) the DOC developed initiatives to proactively respond to concerns of critics in the Illinois legislature and in the media. The impact of the negative publicity on the DOC and on staff morale is discussed.