All Games Banned From MO Prisons

A while back we mentioned that Missouri pulled violent games from prisons on the basis that hardened criminals shouldn't be practicing their sharpshooting technique. Now, the new governor has removed all video games from the MO prison system. From the AP story: "Blunt, a Republican who took office two weeks ago, called video games 'a luxury that inmates should not be allowed to enjoy.'"

Comments

To be blunt about this.

[AtariAmarok]

"Blunt, a Republican..."

Looking for a new bill co-signed by State Legislator Doobie.

Give Inmates Skills

[__aaitqo8496]

While I understand that inmates deserve some rights (despite their lack of liberty), I think this is a step in the right directions. Let's try actually _educating_ those that need it. Without video games and TV, maybe inmates will have to resort to... reading. If you haven't graduated high school, I think that a program to help you earn your GED would be particularly helpful.

Instead of encouraging the downward spiral of crime, let's give people skills to use if they wish to fix their ways.

Re:Give Inmates Skills

[orangesquid]

I've never seen why jails aren't more like boarding school with therapy centers for the /really/ messed up people.

If someone's parents fail to raise them well, or someone's environment shapes them poorly, or someone suffers through tragic events and doesn't learn to cope, their condition is not their fault (although their actions are), but, the condition can be reversed, and the actions can't.

This whole concept of "adult time-out" is stupid. Turning 18 doesn't(shouldn't) change "getting grounded" from lasting a few days or hours to lasting months to years to decades.

Political motivation?

[(trb001)]

Blunt, a Republican...

Was it really necessary or worthwhile to label him a Republican in the AP article? I'm not necessarily saying there's an obvious bias, but would the author have included this statement had he been a Democrat? Politics have nothing to do with this story at all.

--trb

Future EA Employees?

[michael path]

From TFA:

In prison, inmates should "pick up skills and abilities that will allow them to go back out into society and be productive citizens," Blunt said. "Playing video games doesn't have anything to do with either of those objectives."

Are you kidding? Confined to constricted areas for entire years. Limited interpersonal action creating a sociopath. Far, far too much free time on their hands. Die hard video game players. Always ready to take it up the butt.

This is where Electronic Arts needs to recruit new talent.

Hardly a punishment.

[Japong]

They shouldn't have their games banned, they should just get specially made versions of the games already out there.

Is there really anything more punitive than waiting in line for World of Warcraft? Having a queue system that's been modified so that you'll join the server... in 10-20 years? After which you'll time out and have to rejoing WoW 2. Give them all 28.8 modems to play CS:Source with. Ball mice. Nokia N-gages (the side-talkin' versions). The entire Deer Hunter collection.

Those suckers will crack within days!

Rehabilitataion vs. Punishment

[American AC in Paris]

Quoth Blunt:

Our penitentiaries are punitive institutions where those who have committed crimes against society are sent to pay for their actions.

Whatever happened to rehabilitation? When did we become a nation that values vindication over elevation?

Video games could be used as a reward--stay on good behavior, complete a VoTech course, get gaming privs. They could be a useful tool; they're something an inmate desires, so make it something they strive to get.

But no. First things first: punish the criminal. After all, if we give 'em reasons to be happy or comfortable, they won't be suffering for their crimes--and that's what matters. Make 'em pay.

Heck, why not just turn all 5+ year prison terms into life sentences? All a long prison sentence does for most people these days is make 'em even worse than they were when they went in. It's not like our "tough on crime" policies are designed to make them better people while they're on the inside...

Re:Prisoners should have basic human rights too.

[over_exposed]

I'm sorry, I don't think that *I* failed someone in prison for rape, theft, murder or drug dealing. I don't think it was society either. I think that they made the choices that they did and because of that, I don't feel that I should pay (through taxes) for their Xboxes, PS2s, televisions and game titles.
I agree that prisoners deserve basic human rights (food, shelter, etc.) but that does not, under ANY circumstances, include Grand Theft Auto or Monkey Ball. I don't even think it includes television, cable or broadcast. Why should prisoners who have been caught doing illegal things have access to certain things by default when half the country (exaggeration) can't even afford them?
If they want the news, they can get a news paper. If they want to kill some aliens, too damn bad.

Re:Learning is expensive

[Ayaress]

Learning is pretty cheap. My school district uses more uncertified teachers than certified. Their average salary is $22,000 a year, and each one either teaches an average of 35 students all subjects (elementary school), or around 350 students one subject (middle/high school).

Each student costs the district around $4000, however, most of this is textbooks, which are purchased at worse prices than prescription drugs, and are replaced far more often than they need it (Except for the computer books, which hadn't been replaced since 1985 when I graduated), and various other supplies (Science classes are most expensive, math and literiture following close behind due to calculators and additional books).

However, most of this can be cut out. Hard science? Drop it, it's expensive or because it could give convicts access to chemicals they could use as drugs (or worse, not use as drugs but try anyway) if that's the kind of politician you are. Math? Cut most of that, and teach them a business math class. They'll find far more use for it anyway. Literiture? Screw it, stick some books in the library and if they want to read, have at it.

Limit the classes to basic skills: Language, business math, computer use, communication. It's not a well rounded education, but it will give them a good shot at a far better life than most of them were in that got them in prison to begin with.

As for books, don't burn $200 per student on new books every year. Get throwaways from the local high school or university, and stock the library out of the public library's anual $1 book sale. By limiting the class offering to the above, most of those books will be good for as long as they last, and shouldn't need constant updating.

Learning's only expensive for students because they're taught just about everything, so they can do just about everything. Convicts are another matter. Just the fact that they're convicts alone is going to severely limit their job options, regardless of how they are personally. What they need is a targeted education with a narrow set of useful skills that will let them get decent jobs and even continue their education after they're released.

Re:Learning is expensive

[Short Circuit]

Have you looked at textbooks recently? They're stuffed with photos licensed from third parties. And with every copy of the book sold goes a royalty to the owner of the photo.

My Political Science 110 textbook costs more than $90, and it's got more page surface covered with photos than with text.

In case the morons haven't noticed...

[ClioCJS]

... Keeping a prison running smoothly is incredibly hard. Why, they can't even keep drugs out of prisons! The argument has been made in the past that prisoners should not get cable television as well.

Guess what folks? Entertained prisoners are less likely to riot and less likely to stick you with a shiv. Prisoners cost $30K a year for us to house, and that's not counting the medical costs when Joe gets shivved in the nutsuck by Malcolm.

It's simple cost-benefit analysis. If you want to spend more money, go ahead, but our prison system is already doomed for failure. At our current rate of increase of incarceration, 50% of americans will be in prison by the time we reach retirement. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Something is going to break before then. (Hopefully the drug laws.)

But these people calling for mandatory 5 year sentences for any felony? Hate to break it to you, but if you've downloaded an mp3, you've committed a felony. Just about anything can be considered a felony. Steal a mailbox? Felony. Anyone saying someone deserves 5 yrs in prison for stealing a mailbox, at a cost to taxpayers of $150,000 (not counting court and legal costs), should be incarcerated themselves for being a fucking kneejerk dolt.

And america has the highest incarceration rate of any nation in the country. We are the LEAST FREE country on the planet. Prisons are not solving out problems, and turning them into gulags isn't going to help anything either. Grow the fuck up.