What privileges do you think prisoners need taken away?

Question

What do you think that people in jail need to have less or none of? My vote is internet access or privileges. What's yours. Do you speak from inside prision or outside looking in? Who makes these decisions?

Answer 1

As an ex-con I can tell you that in my State we never had the Internet. And any other things that we had we paid for, not the tax payers. However it is a slippery slope to take things away. If you take away weight lifting then you have a bunch of pissed off inmates who then start attacking the guards. T.V's are the perfect babysitter for correction officers.

I say limit phone calls and visits. Though it isn't paid for by the tax payers, if you make the inmate crave the outside world more, he or she will appreciate being out there when they get paroled. Too many inmates talk on the phone everyday, and get one two visits every week. Make them want to be out there in the world more.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

As far as I am concerned if you transgress the law and go to jail you should have no privileges. All this talk of rehabilitation is rubbish. 75% of released prisoners re-offend. Here in Britain the government have announced that shoplifters should not go to jail. I would make prisoners work to pay for their keep and if they did not they wouldn't get fed, their choice. No TV, basic food only. No games, hard labour. No newspapers or magazines. Prison should be so uncomfortable that anyone going would not wish to return. It should be a deterrent, not a holiday camp./

Answer 4

Couldnt agree more with Wolf and jxt299.

I am not in prison and have never been but I know people who have. Prison is not fun. It is the most depressing time of the people I know, who have neen inside, lives.

I would say keep it as it is for the most part but there needs to be a bigger focus on rehabilitation. Treating them like animals only disconects them further from the outsie world and will lead to more crime.

Answer 5

I think prisoners should have every conceivable tool to help them rehabilitate. We shouldn't take away internet or telvision priviledges or they will loose sight of the world they are wanting to return to and may not be able to re-integreate into society or loose interest in the world outside of prison. We shouldn't deny them excercise or they will become useless to society and their deteriorating health will become our burdon. We shouldn't take away their access to books or training programs or even a prison income or when they return to society they'll have exactly the same assets as when they were arrested. I don't think they should be denied conjugal visit privileges, in fact I think that prostitution should be legalized for them as it is an urge that will be fulfilled one way or another. I don't think they should be denied access to church services as prisonners need all the hope they can be alloted in jail in order to become better people. I think in addition they should be given access to guided meditation or group therapy to assist prisoners in identifying the issues that put them in jail in the first place. I also believe that more prisons should have chain-gang labor forces in order to help prisoners contribute back to society for what they took away.

Answer 6

There are some states that pamper their prisoners, because the Warden wants to be a nice guy. I believe if they are in prison, then make them go without any amenities. If it were made harder on them and the word gets around, perhaps people would stop and think before committing a crime. Hey! I speak from outside and that is where I intend to stay.

Answer 7

Please do not get the idea that prisoners are pampered in prisons. They are not. It is a horrible place, the existence is awful. So why go out of your way to make it worse? The guards use priviledges as bargaining tools to get the prisoners to behave. Its not unreasonable. I am for having the minimum number of people in prison--only those who have actually been violent or actually have hurt people, but about half are nonviolent, and the US has the biggest prison population in the whole world. Its not healthy for the prisoners and its ultimately not healthy for the society, either.

Answer 8

I think they should have very limited use of the Internet...& it should be 100% supervised. Some local jails have vending machines with junk food & snacks. I think they should have access only as a reward for good behavior.

I think they should "have" something

I would rather pay to educate them or teach them a trade while they're in jail then to have them come out, not be able to find employment and commit another crime or kill someone to get money when they do get out.

If they're going to get out one day they should be rehabilited...otherwise they come out worse then when they went in.

Answer 9

they should not have any. it is prison, not "happy fun time in a secure location"

to ease overcrowding, there should be 4 bunks in a cell, but with 8 inmates sharing them "hot racks" style. 12 hours in the cell, 12 hours doing other things.

of course there should be work or study programs to ensure the inmates can go get an honest job when they get out and not go in and out of prison for their whole life.

Answer 10

Hum...

I can't imagine being locked up constantly being told when I have to wake, when I can go outside, when I can shower, when I can eat...

For the ones who have committed small non-violent crimes, I am ok with internet access for rehabilitational/educational purposes. I mean.. they are going to get out someday. Do you want them to turn around and commit another crime or maybe come out a better person?