Should Prisoners get Internet Access?

[danhay]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4574739.stm

Part of me says they should be allowed it for self improvement purposes. And it could be used as a useful incentive for good behaviours.

However, I would say it depends on what you're inside for.

[TheLemming]

Why should internet access be provided?

Sorry I cant see an arguement for it.

[c c]

I don’t see why not. So long as it’s in a Internet café type of environment.

[Ian V]

FFS, prison is suppose to be a punishment. Why not give them a free mini bar and 24 hour room service while there at it!

Ian V

[JMGS4]

Prisoners are in prison to be punished NOT to give them a holiday!!!
Books newspapers TV etc must all be a privelige which they must earn as part of their repayment to the society which they've wronged!!!
Anything else is an insult to the victims......
And what if they misuse the internet??? It's bad enough that the Krays and similar scum could run their empires out of their cells, but internet would just make it easier for them.... shouldn't we be PC and give islamic Terrorists a training in the use of semtex or ricin? just as mad!!!

[jimothy]

What a great idea. Take a person who's been locked up for grooming children in internet chatrooms, then give them free net access!

[rude-boy]

Only if strictly monitored and only by way of a reward for good behaviour. Same as with any other form of media.

[wolves_wanderer]

I don't see why they should have access to emails but if the internet access is supervised as part of a recognised educational course then fair enough.

[deltafox]

NO! Give em a toffee hammer and the Rock of Gibraltar plus 20 freakin years. Thatll both occupy em and punish em. Problem sorted....

[bruciebabe]

How else would they enjoy Karma Rosenberg's assets and skills?
Seriously I don't see prison as deterrent or punishment, there are better ways to achieve these. What prison is good at is removing sociopaths from general circulation now Australia no longer accepts them. What these people do whilst inside is pretty irrelevant unless it costs taxpayers too much.

[whoateallthepies]

To be blunt

Should they fk

[Fatboy]

bruciebabe said:

What prison is good at is removing sociopaths from general circulation now Australia no longer accepts them.

Absolutely PMSL! Brilliant

[billb]

whoateallthepies said:

To be blunt Should they fk

i'd echo that theres no such thing as properly supervised access theyd get round it

[seafarer]

deltafox said:

NO! Give em a toffee hammer and the Rock of Gibraltar plus 20 freakin years. Thatll both occupy em and punish em. Problem sorted....

He's right. Having violated the constitutional rights of others, prisoners then forfeit their own. That's the punishment. They infringe upon someone else's right to safety, security, etc. and lose their own right to freedom. I think they should pay for their room and board (like the rest of us do) by working for it. Over here, they used to make license plates for cars. My aunt was a manager in a factory that employed prisoners, under guard of course, as cheap labor. It depends on the prisoner as to who is safe enough for that kind of activity and who needs to be locked up forever without interaction with others. They'd have to figure out which ones are the serial offenders (rapists, con-artists, murderers, child molestors), and which ones would adopt another way of life if they had the job skills. Not everyone can be "rehabilitated".

[danhay]

Well I'd certainly like to think that if I got sent down for a speeding offence, that I'd still be able to post about the unfairness of it all on PH.

[FourWheelDrift]

Prisons are not holiday camps or hotels. So no, they can do what people did before TV and radio and make their own entertainment as far as I care.

[branflakes]

Fatboy said:

bruciebabe said: What prison is good at is removing sociopaths from general circulation now Australia no longer accepts them. Absolutely PMSL! Brilliant

I have to agree - that was the funniest thing I've seen in weeks.

Maybe I should get out more?

[bruciebabie]

bruciebabe said:

How else would they enjoy Karma Rosenberg's assets and skills? Seriously I don't see prison as deterrent or punishment, there are better ways to achieve these. What prison is good at is removing sociopaths from general circulation now Australia no longer accepts them. What these people do whilst inside is pretty irrelevant unless it costs taxpayers too much.

Here's Karma, just to illustrate my point:

[scared but happy]

los angeles said:

FourWheelDrift said: Obviously, life in prison sucks.

Or blows (depending on your prison standing)

Sorry I'll get my coat