Yes or no, and why?
2006-07-13 19:01:40 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
No, in my opinion they should not.
I believe that prison should be a place of rehabilitation and punishment, not a place to play. I believe that incarcerated individuals should have access to many things, but that does not include cable television.
I think they should, first and foremost, have access to rehabilitative services, especially if they are serving regular terms that will eventually end. I think they should receive mandatory job training if they do not already have training for a job that contributes to society. I think they should have access to books, and periodicals, if they wish to pay for the subscriptions themselves. (Naturally, this does not include pornography of any kind.) I think they should be provided with local newpapers in a reading room, though I understand from working with a woman who was a jail guard that you can make lethal weapons from newpapers. (Yes, weird but true. They use a process that's an awful lot like papier mache, and they can make a knife so sharp it can kill someone if they stab them just once.) I think they can get all their daily news from newpapers. I think they should be given means of keeping themselves busy, such as games like chess or cards, and art supplies if they want to paint, or draw, or write poetry, etc. I also think they should be allowed to write letters to loved ones, and receive mail. Phone calls and visits are also fine with me.
I think access to television and radio should be rights that can be earned with good behavior. They are important media in our society, so I think they should be privileges that are earned, not just given by virtue of being locked up.
I don't like the idea of convicts having access to computers or cable television or VHS or DVD players. If prisons want to give them computer access so they can have email accounts, I think the prison needs to set up a network where the only thing a prisoner can do is have an email account. I know for a lot of people these days, email has completely replaced letter writing. I think that prisons could set it up so that mail with attachments is automatically flagged and previewed by censors so that wives and girlfriends cannot send nudie pictures of themselves. I don't think prisoners should be allowed to just cruise around the internet, looking at anything they like, and posting messages on message boards. I also don't believe they should have access to cable television. It is a luxury that many hard working people cannot afford, so why should someone get it as a reward for breaking the law?
The whole reason they are in prison or jail is because they did something wrong and they are supposed to be separated from society partly so they can try and rehabilitate themselves, and partly for punishment. I think that prison and jail are like the "time out" periods you give to little kids when they are naughty. You don't give a little kid time out and tell them their punishment consists of watching the Disney channel for 30 minutes. I think the same goes for convicted criminals.
2006-07-13 19:36:03 · answer #1 · answered by Bronwen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
certainly not....because they do not deserve to have any more comfort than a roof over there head, clothes and shoes, a bed and food in there bellies.
How does living well in prison....detour criminals. It doesnt. Allot of them have it better in prison than they did on the streets.
2006-07-13 19:07:14 · answer #2 · answered by sudbury girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, NO AND NO! Why are we treating criminals BETTER than our military?! Criminals have ignored laws, and then there are people fighting and dying for our country and we don't give them cable!
2006-07-13 19:05:18 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa N 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Not because they deserve it, but because it makes for a good sedative and distraction. Better to have the inmates vegging out on the boob tube than plotting to attack the understaffed guards.
2006-07-13 19:07:44 · answer #4 · answered by timm1776 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and they should be given a tivo too in case they are in the weight room when their favorite show is on.
2006-07-13 19:21:22 · answer #5 · answered by curious 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They shouldn't even be allowed to watch t.v. They're crimminals. They've done something wrong and watching t.v. is no punishment.
2006-07-13 19:05:30 · answer #6 · answered by Jill H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes because not everyone in prison should be there and they are not animals anyway,losing freedom should be more than enough ,most are nonviolent also,thats my thoughts
2006-07-13 19:24:25 · answer #7 · answered by slick_as_a_chiken 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no ways, they might learn new ways of escaping hence make innocent people lives miserable again
2006-07-13 19:30:42 · answer #8 · answered by earthguy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Part of their punishment.
2006-07-13 19:05:18 · answer #9 · answered by .45 Peacemaker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋