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UK Prisons To Crack Down On Inmate Internet and Mobile Phone Use (thestack.com)
An anonymous reader writes: UK prisons will roll out enhanced internet and mobile phone blocking technologies, according to new measures announced yesterday by Chancellor George Osborne in the Autumn Statement. The step, which seeks to stop inmate access to the internet and calls made from mobile devices, will involve part of a £1.3bn investment from the Ministry of Justice to improve the country's Prison Service. Through this strategy, the government hopes to drive "safety improvements" by denying calls and data used on illicit mobile devices. The latest development in blocking technologies promises to be better (paywalled) than earlier systems, which inmates have been able to get around.
Minsitry of JUSTIVE? Is that a new one?
Controls on internet access and cell phones seems like something you actually do want to control in prisons. A drug dealer can run an entire operation from a cell phone. Not sure if anything like this is implemented in the US but it probably should.
The point of having prisons isn't to provide slightly inconvenient paid accommodation to ethically challenged individuals. "Researching their case" does not include keeping drug trades going to finance their defense or "keeping an eye" on possible witnesses against them. They have already proven that they can't handle reality and life on the outside, and Facebook isn't a human right.
Given this governments desire for things to have backdoors what are the chances this will include one. I mean what's an ex-MP to do if they get imprisoned (which occasionally happens). Mind you it would be a good lesson in something they seem to be totally unable to understand; even if you create a backdoor for a select few then eventually everyone knows how to use it.
They have already proven that they can't handle reality and life on the outside, and Facebook isn't a human right.
They have already proven that the system is a failure, and this is not about Facebook.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
If they're smuggling cell phones in, maybe you need to check their bungholes better.
Do they know how much of a pain in the ass it is to smuggle in the largest model iPhone?
Can we really have it both ways? In other parts of the world we're arguing that internet access should be a utility, rather than a luxary. Not taking ng the piss, just mulling it over.
Yeah, and "commenting on crime and punishment" does not include "talking about what you've inferred from TV shows".
We're not talking about a few mafia bosses, we're talking about the entire prison population, most of which are not involved in "drug trades" or witness nobbling. Seriously, you're acting as if crime is this glamorous thing from TV. It's a completely unrealistic view and you really shouldn't comment on this subject if you insist on living in a fantasy world.
Britain's ministry of justice is second only to the US department of justice in doing ........ ensuring that people in the system have no access to reality, life, the Internet, and the ability to be part of even an online society, research their case, case law, or learn. ....
How nice. I'm sure they would only ever use the internet to learn about flower arranging and xylophone playing. It's not like they'd use it to continue managing their illegal operations and their gang from the inside, or threatening the people who helped put them in there - is it?
It's a utility because it's become how we control and organise our lives. Prisoners, who have minimal control over their lives as the prison service does that for them, do not need it to the same degree and it is therefore a luxury. They do have controlled access to communications, for example to contact their lawyers. This is about preventing uncontrolled communication which is widely used for arranging drug supply, continued control over their criminal networks and so on. While previous systems have obviously failed, and no system will ever be perfect, hopefully this new initiative will work out better than what has gone before.
I was about to go on about whether that's a metaphor for common society and what the future looks like, but, 1.3 million pounds to setup a few firewalls and turn on parental controls. I haven't seen something as overfunded as that in quite a while...
"Set a man a fire, he'll be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man afire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
Considering that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes every person's right to liberty, we might as well conclude that even putting people in prison, not just restricting their access to communication, is a non-starter.
Prisoners have access to communication, but it's supervised to prevent the things which are the reason for the ban on unsupervised communication with people on the outside. If prisoners don't have the means to research their case, then the solution isn't to allow unsupervised communication, but to provide the means to research their case. And that does not mean unfettered access to daily news.
Folks, they are in prison for a reason.
"promises to be better (paywalled) "
Virtually smacks samzenpus upside their head.
blindly antisocialist = antisocial
So they're just going to line the prison with a wire mesh then?
Safe from cellular microwaves and EMP!
I for one will welcome our high-technolgy, convict overlords when the apocalypse comes.
We are talking about the parts of the prison population who would use prohibited means of communication, not the supervised channels that are available to all prisoners. These people do not take the significant risks just to keep up-to-date with the latest news on systemd developments or what happened on Strictly Come Dancing.
They are in prison. It's not their decision anymore. It's the prison administration's job to enforce the rules, and making unsupervised communication with the outside difficult (if not impossible) is one aspect of that.
If only they weren't unreasonably seeking to use the most surveilled communications medium on Earth! There's no way to know what they're doing, much less punish such anonymous and unlocatable scofflaws!
Oh, wait...
This means I'm gonna hafta stop posing on Slashdot?
and prisons have proven not to work, in fact have shown to make some offenders into better criminals, allowing them to build connections and networks of other offenders for use when released, like facebook but face to face.
Cellphones aren't the problem, Locking people up and then releasing them with no support, no education and no chance at a job due to "convictions" which for a lot of employers will automatically put their application in a big trash pile, and people still wonder why recidivism is still so high.
Don't believe me, have a look at re-offending rates, each new programme is making it worse due to funds being used by technology at the cost of re-education or staffing levels.
We would send them to you for support, education and a job, but your mom said no.
Why not make acces a privilege?
Totally agree! They need to feel punished for every minute and every day they are there. In some circles, they call it college and its expected that they will be in prision and they embrace that lifestyle, because its easier than the real world, having to earn enough for rent and food etc. prison is free rent, food, and other amenities...
Presumably, access to these this has always be restricted. But kingpins have way to smuggle in cells. Which presumably are used to continue running their empires, as well as playing Candy Crush Saga.
Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
Judging by the bad grammar and even worse attitude and twisted view of the situation all I can say to GP is: Do you enjoy your prison sentence?
I am fully aware that revenge and punishment are not accepted concepts in modern jurisdiction, but preventing convicted criminals from doing more harm is a valid and widely accepted purpose which justifies removing people from society. This includes limiting their ability to interact with the outside world.
Part of the point of being in prison is you get denied some of these things. That's kind of the point.
When someone has an illegal phone in prison, they could be using it to plan escapes, run their criminal empires, or plan witness intimidation. You know, stuff like this:
Think of the Mexican cartel leader they tunneled out of prison.
Justice, in this case, means ensuring you aren't still actively engaged in criminal activity. You know, the actual job of the ministry of justice.
So, boo hoo, criminals may not be getting unfettered access to the intertubes. That's what happens when you are in prison.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
On the other hand, the internet can be used to learn a skill or trade, which would benefit everyone post-release. I would have no issue with giving prisoners supervised access to the internet to learn software development, law, math, science, art, or anything that would give them options other than to commit more crime after they're released.
How does committing crimes "prove that the system is a failure"? Unless you are of the "it can't be my fault, the system is to blame" crowd.
global tel link wants it's $1 or per min for calls and cell make it so inmates pay a lot less.
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Have gnu, will travel.
Why should inmates have access to any mobile phones or the internet at all?
image
How does committing crimes "prove that the system is a failure"?
That depends on the nature of the "crime". If you had been incarcerated for possessing or selling a bit of weed, engaging in a peaceful protest, being Aaron Swartz, Living While Black, or simply pissing off the wrong LEO, then you too would likely feel that the system had failed. And you'd be right in that assessment. And there are cycles of poverty and hopelessness, (absolute breeding grounds for all kinds of violent anti-social behaviours), which are allowed to continue and sometimes even actively perpetuated by governments, law-enforcement agencies, and the attitudes of society-at-large. Again, FAIL.
Unless you are of the "it can't be my fault, the system is to blame" crowd.
No, it ain't always the system's fault, and personal responsibility and awareness are always to be encouraged and expected. But there are an awful lot of people in prison through no fault of their own, and a whole lot more who are there largely because of the contributory negligence of the society they live in. And the way most of them are being treated while in prison is pretty much a guarantee that they'll truly be bad-ass criminals when they are released - even if they were very minor criminals, or not criminals at all, when they were tossed in jail.
'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
... a lot of people in the UK can't even get a decent connection, even thought they have to pay for it. So why do criminals get it free anyway. I thought the objective when jailed is to take away certain 'home comfort' liberties' that make it an atonement for crimes committed. If the story is true, then that is really sad.
The prison can't even keep out contraband. How can it be a safe and rehabilitative environment when tools, toys, and weapons can't be kept out? That's proof of failure right there.
Learn to love Alaska
The prisoners have electricity and water, even if monitored and controlled. They have lights out enforced on them and such. Internet is provided at most prisons, on computers that are locked down and heavily monitored, which is why prisoners want other means of Internet, to use it without oversight.
Something can be a fundamental right and still denied to prisoners. The US bans prisoners from voting, owning firearms, and a variety of other things that are "rights". Though many places allow prisoners to vote, i don't know if the UK is or isn't on that list.
Learn to love Alaska
There are bugs in open source software... I guess the free / open source concept is a failure.
nice non sequitur. The system doesn't work. We can't even get an agreement on what "the system" is supposed to do. And the possible options are unrelated to what actually happens.
Learn to love Alaska
it'd save a ton of money, and who'd hold up a liquor store when you'd fac the death penality? 14/88
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80% of the British population are foreign nationals either in the UK illegally or granted temporary residency. It isn't British society that's broken.
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
They are allowed to have XBox's and Playstations, and if they are lucky that provides an internet connection allowing online gaming and communication.
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
The FCC and cell companies wont allow any intentional cell-free zones in the USA. Nominally the say its a safety issue for legal users. Inmates are very clever in obtaining, hiding and charging their phones. Plenty are found in any deep sweep of US jails. Did for theaters and schools.
First they start with some random prison to see if it works, then slowly apply it to the rest of the UK to prevent the serfs from questioning their glorious masters.
Lock people in box and then deny them the right to talk to other people. Yes, that's really going to improve safety.
The UK government has recently been told by the courts that they have to allow prisoners to vote (if they're on an indefinite sentence, IIRC), and the UK government are livid about being told that that is the law.
Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
That depends on the nature of the "crime". If you had been incarcerated for possessing or selling a bit of weed, engaging in a peaceful protest, being Aaron Swartz, Living While Black, or simply pissing off the wrong LEO, then you too would likely feel that the system had failed.
Yes, I'm sure you would, but you'd also be living in the USA. This story is about UK prisons, so perhaps it is better to stick to criticisms of the British justice system.
We are talking about criminals. The types of people who have been bypassing security measures and restrictions for hundreds of years. Same thing with pirates.
At best, this effort will have an impact for about a year, but after then, internet and phone rates will go back to what they are currently.
Some people probably will respond with "oh so you are saying if you cant fix it completely why bother trying?". No, i think the effort, money, taxdollars and work can be put to better use. Maybe try improving the rehabilitation capabilities of the prisons, to keep repeat visits to a minimum.