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| Fifth Column |
| NYT's Miller Gets New Digs, Fashion Makeover, Color TV, No Loaf |
| 2005-07-08 |
| There are no bars in the 70-square-foot cell that Judith Miller, the New York Times reporter, is expected to call home for the next four months or so, as she serves her contempt-of-court sentence in the Alexandria Detention Center in Virginia. But though the jail has a reputation among lawyers and corrections officials as a relatively progressive institution, Ms. Miller indicated to her lawyers yesterday that the detention center seemed overcrowded and that she was told she would be sleeping on the floor last night because of a shortage of beds. Ms. Miller was sentenced to jail in the Washington area on Wednesday for refusing to cooperate with a special prosecutor's investigation into the disclosure of the identity of a covert C.I.A. operative, and entered the detention center later that afternoon. The staff was "extremely professional and very courteous," she said from jail Wednesday night. After spending about a day in the initial receiving area, she was moved into the general population yesterday. The Alexandria Detention Center, opened in 1987 at a cost of $15 million, adheres to a corrections philosophy that tries to use architectural and management styles different from the norm to reduce the tension between inmates and staff members. In contrast, the District of Columbia jail has been plagued by safety problems and overcrowding. "When they tell you it's a 'new-generation jail,' that's not just a bunch of hype," Melinda Douglas, the public defender for the City of Alexandria, said of the Alexandria jail. "They just don't throw you in a cell and expect you to manage," Ms. Douglas said. Though the jail is considered maximum security, the layout of the eight-story building is reminiscent of a dormitory, with cells lining the outside walls and a lounge in the middle. The 450 inmates live in cells with doors and windows rather than bars, and are spread through housing units holding up to 90 people each where they are supervised by one or more deputies, said David Rocco, a captain in the Alexandria sheriff's office. In the lounges, inmates can watch television, play cards or otherwise be outside their cells except for shift changes and head counts during the day and for eight hours at night. Inmates may make unlimited collect calls and have radios and CD players in their cells, and have access to programs taught by volunteers. "You respect them, and in return they respect you," Captain Rocco said. But, as Ms. Douglas noted, it's still a jail and "it's still no fun." Ms. Miller has to wear a green or brown jumpsuit with the word "prisoner" on the back. She can receive visitors only on weeknights except Friday and during the days on weekends. Among her fellow inmates is Zacarias Moussaoui, who recently pleaded guilty in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks. The local jail takes federal inmates through a contract with the United States Marshals Service. Ms. Miller and Matthew Cooper, a reporter for Time magazine, were held in contempt of court in October by Judge Thomas F. Hogan of Federal District Court in Washington after refusing to divulge their sources. The Supreme Court refused last week to hear appeals from the reporters. Mr. Cooper, just before the sentencing hearing on Wednesday, agreed to testify before a grand jury after he received what he called "an express, personal release from my source." Time Inc., which faced the prospect of daily fines, turned over Mr. Cooper's notes and documents to the special prosecutor last week. Ms. Miller's lawyers declined yesterday to outline the next legal moves for their client. "Ms. Miller was just incarcerated Wednesday afternoon," said Saul Pilchen, one of her lawyers, "and as you can imagine, is struggling to adjust to her new surroundings. Any decisions at this time would be premature." In remarks outside the courthouse on Wednesday, Floyd Abrams, another of her lawyers, hinted at a possible strategy in the coming weeks. "At some point before the expiration of that four-month period," Mr. Abrams said, "a lawyer can go back to Judge Hogan and say: 'Blank period of time has passed. She has not revealed her source. There's no reason to think that she will. And so we ask you to free her now.' That is something that does come up routinely in civil contempt situations." But Charles L. Babcock, a lawyer specializing in First Amendment issues with the Jackson Walker law firm in Dallas, said he was dubious about that strategy's chances of success, given Judge Hogan's rulings. |
| Posted by:.com |
| #15 and Ellen Degeneres as "the funny lesbian love interest" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-07-08 22:22 |
| #14 Yep. Still have to replace the breaker tho. Wait - I've another role to fill: Jennifer Lopez as Conchita, the housekeeper-turned-serial murderer! |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-07-08 20:43 |
| #13 LOL Pappy. AC stil under repair? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-07-08 19:03 |
| #12 "Kittens In A Can". Starring Pam Anderson as Judith Miller, Sharon Stone as The Warden, and Angelina Jolie as Lesbian Supermodel Bounty Hunter. Queen Latifa as 'Captain Oraldam' and Martha Stewart as herself.... |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-07-08 17:41 |
| #11 you guys do know that the lefties have no use for Ms. Miller, dont you? What does it matter? Miller thinks she's above the law. Now she has to learn the truth. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-07-08 16:49 |
| #10 "Kittens In A Can". Starring Pam Anderson as Judith Miller, Sharon Stone as The Warden, and Angelina Jolie as Lesbian Supermodel Bounty Hunter. With special guest star Lil' Kim playing herself. |
| Posted by: Steve 2005-07-08 15:12 |
| #9 "Kittens In A Can". Starring Pam Anderson as Judith Miller, Sharon Stone as The Warden, and Angelina Jolie as Lesbian Supermodel Bounty Hunter. I'm gonna make millions!!! Make that billions!!! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-07-08 14:44 |
| #8 LOL! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-07-08 14:16 |
| #7 erm, no. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2005-07-08 14:15 |
| #6 well, LH, that makes it unanimous, don't it? |
| Posted by: Angurong Flating2060 2005-07-08 13:56 |
| #5 As far as I'm concerned, Ms. Miller can rot in those way-too-plush accommodations. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-07-08 13:42 |
| #4 you guys do know that the lefties have no use for Ms. Miller, dont you? |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2005-07-08 13:09 |
| #3 the nerve of those bombers in London! - taking the spotlight off Ms Miller's courageous stand....LOL |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-07-08 11:49 |
| #2 Buck up, Judy! Stiff upper lip! Well, the limo's waiting! Off to the Hamptons early to beat the traffic! Ta-ta! |
| Posted by: Pinchy 2005-07-08 11:15 |
| #1 Boo Fuc*&%# hoo for you Ms. Miller! |
| Posted by: Tkat 2005-07-08 11:12 |