ANSWERS: 29
  • I dont think any prisoners should have computers.
  • In a word, no.
  • As one with a crypto-anarchist tendency, I would say yes. Why? It makes things much more entertaining.
  • nobody in jail should have access to any computers at all. They already live better than some of us on the outside who haven't committed crimes. Plus they get free college education (most americans can't afford), free health care (again we can't afford). Those on death row can now get free transplants even if they will die in 6 months..that at least a billion dollar surgery and drugs for 6 months ONLY to die in the end and another person to..Prisons should be a place to be punished. Not a place to be able to have computer access, play games, get an education (other than GED), etc. Make them what they were meant for..punishment.
  • Why should someone who committed a crime have ANY luxuries? WHY WASTE OUR TAX DOLLARS!!!!!
  • Yes, they should be treated fairly and also receive facials, full body massages and pedicures
  • I think they should use the Internet for educational purposes and not for entertainment. After all "a mind is a terrible thing to waste".
  • Sure they should... if they can build it, themselves from items found on the floor of thier cell. Or from the sweat of thier brow as they work like a slave to repay the public for thier support. Or maybe from thier lifes blood to repay the victims of thier crimes. Sounds OK to me...
  • Sure. And cable TV and free long distance, too. They *are* paying Comcast (or whoever) for all of this, aren't they? Besides, how else are they going to run their drug empires from prison, anyway? If they have to shut down those drug networks, just think what that's going to do to unemployment in this country!
  • a) Prison should be a punishment. b) Everyone is better off if prisoners are able to return to their full productivity potential after they are released. . If someone wants to say "learning is fun and therefore we shouldn't let prisoners learn" I understand that notion but think I respectfully disagree. It is in our own best interests to let them learn. . As far as personal use I believe this should be severely limited. What would I allow? For instance, if they can hand write a letter I don't see why they should also be forbidden from typing one.
  • No, they are there for punishment because they committed crimes against society. The cost of keeping them in prison is astronomical as it is. I fail to see why they should have any luxuries, other than books to read if they want to educate themselves. The bleeding hearts can jump up and down, yelling that they are people with human rights, all they want. But what about the rights of the mother and child that got mowed down in the drive by shooting. Or the rights of the girl that was gang raped, beaten, then had battery acid poured on her ??
  • No they shouldn't. They are being punished.
  • Yes, they shouldn't but if your rich you can bring a computer and a t.v. in your cell, basically because they get thier own.
  • I don't see why not. As long as they can get their hands on a computer.
  • They should only get to use it for educational purposes under the watchful eye of prison officials. No personal use for e-mail, searching the web, watching entertaining movies, etc. A lot of poor people outside the prison walls cannot afford to have e-mail, or have their own computer. I can't see why a prisoner should. This makes prison a better place than outside it.
  • I think they should be monitored and certain sites (like porn) should be blocked. If someone seriously wants to turn his/her life around, involvement on the internet can be a very good thing. But not for video games or chat sites or myspace/youtube/facebook trivia. There is a great deal of knowledge available via the internet and someone willing to investigate should be able to do so! :)
  • Maybe, but only if it's a reward for good behaviour and it's for learning purposes. Generally speaking though, I think prisoners already have too many privileges compared to many people who live a law-abiding life and can't make ends meet.
  • No, and take away cable too
  • No i think they shouldnt have any link to the outside world. Especially the internet. Definitly not any type of email or chatting services either. they can use it to threaten victims or look at victims web pages and get off oh crap like that. Thats if the victims are still alive. Most likely their dead if there in for life.
  • No, if they have a life sentence then there is no need, it is hardly a basic human right, they can read books, write letters and work for their upkeep.
  • not really no! if your going to die in prison whats the point in learning something new? and in no way should they have unlimited access to the outside word. they have there visitation rights and 1 phone call a day thats enough y make it easy 4 them? prisoners that commited crimes that will b released, drugs theft etc should be able to learn and so they are able to go to college upon there release and make a better life 4 themself but agian should not be used for personal use.
  • I really don't find myself in a place that allows me to say what prisoners should or should not have !! I am sure it depends though !!
  • why not?
  • as long as it is monitored so that they can't abuse the privilege - such as sex offenders, assaultive individuals with a grudge ... otherwise, i think that it's a great resource for folks and, if we can encourage any individual to better him or herself, i think that, within reasonable costs such as computing and the internet, it ought to be done.
  • Never!!! I work as on officer in a max joint. If you let them have access to the net they would be swindling, doing child porn, and everything else they can. Thetre are not enoughg safe guards in the world to stop them! NEVER should they have any access to a computer!
  • Prisoners should be forced to sit on the internet and answer mundane or weird questions from people who are good enough to talk to but you won’t invite to your neighbors cell.
  • no. There's too many ways to have contact with the outside world and notorious men in history have been known to run entire organizations from prison and they didn't even have internet then. I can understand entertainment, even some kind of tv or radio or something, but the internet allows prisoners too much access to others outside the prison system. The only way I could see it being a safe, good idea would be if the prison had a small prison internet system set up with lots of filters and content restricted heavily. Even then, it would be a waste of resources and tax dollars.
  • Remember, there are innocent people in prison and even on death row. Prisoners involved in their defense or appeal need to be able to access relevant primary law sources along with information relevant to their cases. Legal research using resources like FindLaw and LexisNexis are excellent tools for that sort of research and are available on the net. Prisoners should be able use these tools. It's easy to say, "Heck no they are there to be punished!" but I am afraid the issue is a bit more complex. In many places (not sure if its a federal law and I am too lazy to look now) prisoners are guaranteed access to legal materials relevant to their case. Allowing research on the internet might even be a cost saver for a prison system?
  • No they should not be allowed too. It's a prison not a Hilton Hotel.

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