Missouri Prisons Pull Violent Video Games

blueZhift writes "Missouri's most violent criminals will no longer be permitted to play violent video games that simulate the kind of offenses that resulted in their incarceration in the first place. Prison officials pulled the games, which included such killfests as Hitman: Contracts, once they were informed of their violent content. Science fiction and sports games were not pulled as part of the sweep, so more nerdy prisoners will not be affected by the changes."

Comments

Martha Stewart Omnimedia games titles too?

[orthogonal]

"Missouri's most violent criminals will no longer be permitted to play violent video games that simulate the kind of offenses that resulted in their incarceration...."

OH NOES!1!!11!

No more playing "Martha Stewart: Living" or "Martha Stewart: Baking and Basting for Bubbette" in prison anymore? That is cruel and unusual punishment!

The real question:

[Issue9mm]

I think the real question is why they had them in the first place? Yes, I understand the argument that it's easier to keep them in line if they're docile, but c'mon... I can't tell you how many times I've wished for a place where the meals were prepared for me, could play video games, and not have any responsibilities to worry about (like work).

The more prisons offer to the inmates, the more inclined people are to WANT to go there. Even if they commit a lesser crime for the shorter sentence, it might end up being a choice vacation spot.

-9mm-

Re:The real question:

[BTWR]

it might end up being a choice vacation spot.

Yeah - 3 square meals, no work, no rent, oh... and that pesky forced-anal-raping and beat-downs daily*. But hey - free cable and video games!

*from my watchings of Oz - my skinny, white, jewish ass would last all of 45 seconds in a prison.

Re:The real question:

[*weasel]

In NY state the split is actually 38% of felons are in jail on drug charges, and almost 30% of those have also been convicted of a violent crime. So you've got about ~25% of felons in there because of mandatory minimums.

http://www.drugpolicy.org/statebystate/newyork/r oc kefellerd/index.cfm

Nationally the average is closer to 21%
http://www.enotes.com/americas-prisons/

Granted, these are certainly dramatically increased over the last 20 years -- but they're not nearly the 'majority' you're tossing around.

You mean these games are violent?

[MobyDisk]

"We didn't closely review these," Dave Dormire, superintendent of the Jefferson City Correctional Center, told The Kansas City Star. "We were told these games had more like cartoon violence."

How close do you need to look?

Game Name: "Hitman: Contracts"
ESRB Rating: Mature (17+) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
Sounds coming from prison: "That !@#* warden Dormire is gonna get !$*#$!"

Also note that the ESRB does explicitly label Cartoon Violence as opposed to Violence.

I am amazed at how warning labels are ignored, even when they are simple and relevant! I bet I could put a label on something that says using it will kill you, and people would still buy it... Oh wait, they call that Tobacco!

Re:In other news...

[saintp]

But then how would we oppress Black people!?!?!?

Re:huh??

[saintp]

Actually, the concept of prison as punishment is relatively recent. They used to be places of rehabilitation, and before that testaments to the power of the sovereign. That they are used by the people to punish other people is an innovation from past few hundred years. The modern prison is not designed to rehabilitate, or to deter. It, like the modern judicial system, is designed to ensure that the same minorities who currently populate it will continue to populate it for years to come.

I highly recommend reading Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish if you're interested in an illuminating discussion of the history of the prison system and a detailed account of how we arrived at a society of surveillance. Given all the tinfoil-hattery on /., it should be required reading.