A MAJOR DEFECT OF THIS LACK OF INTEREST IS A LACK OF PUBLIC SCRUTINY. UNLIKE HOUSING OR HEALTH, THERE IS LITTLE COVERAGE OF PENAL POLICY WITH THE RESULT THAT GOVERNMENT CAN GET AWAY WITH SUBTERFUGES IN PENAL POLICY FAR MORE EASILY THAN IN OTHER SOCIAL POLICY AREAS. WITH ONLY ONE HOME OFFICE SPECIALIST REPORTER, THE COMPETITION WHICH OCCURS IN OTHER AREAS OF SOCIAL POLICY IS MISSING. DESPITE SUCH DIFFICULTIES OF THE NEWS MEDIA IN PROMOTING PUBLIC INTEREST IN PENAL AFFAIRS, AND CONSEQUENTLY INFLUENCING POLICY, MORE COULD BE ACHIEVED IF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT THE PENAL SYSTEM, ITS FUTURE PLANNING, AND ITS PROBLEMS WERE MADE AVAILABLE. THE MEDIA COULD THEN MOVE AWAY FROM THE CRISIS-CENTERED REPORTING WHICH IS THE PRESENT MODE OF PRESENTING PENAL AFFAIRS, AND INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE PENAL SYSTEM WOULD PRODUCE A MORE SYMPATHETIC AND UNDERSTANDING RESPONSE FROM THE MEDIA. NOTES ARE GIVEN AND A DISCUSSION APPENDED. (MJW)