What recreational facilities and activities should be available in prisons?

[LoZoccolo]

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. Human decency says they should be permitted diversions

But for the life of me I've never understood why violent criminals are allowed to spend their time lifting weights.

[WingDinger]

4. To protect them from the OTHER violent criminals, duh.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

9. Doesn't that make the threatening criminals even more dangerous?

[yurbud]

20. I would say jazzercize, step aerobics, and pilates. That way, they would not only stay fit, but...

would have a marketable skill when they get out of prison.

And Richard Simmons would suddenly become the most O of OGs.

[cleanhippie]

2. Books, paper and pencil.

And nothing more for violent offenders.

Non-violent offenders should be in a different system.

[oxymoron]

3. I vote for a meditation room and instruction.

[warrior1]

5. yoga

[Nye Bevan]

6. Daytime TV, for the worst offenders. (nt)

[WingDinger]

7. Therapy, medical evaluation. Learn a saleable trade. Make them less dangerous once they get out.

[SATIRical]

47. The trouble with that

is that prison is then attractive for the unemployed and uneducated.

Prison should be a place people want to avoid.

[Johnny Rico]

8. I'm a fan of Supermax-style prisons, myself.

[ret5hd]

11. Of course you are.

bless your heart.

[Comrade Grumpy]

14. I'm all for fans of Supermax prisons experiencing them for themselves.

Most of the world considers them an abomination.

[Johnny Rico]

18. And here I thought I was strict!

I just want people who commit violent crimes to be sent to Supermax-style facilities, but to call for people to be sent there just because they approve of Supermax?

Hardcore, man!

[Comrade Grumpy]

19. I don't call for it, but I do think people who consider themselves "fans"...

...should know exactly what they're talking about.

[Johnny Rico]

21. I'm also a fan of space exploration. Should I not be one unless

I go into space myself?

[Paladin]

22. Don't Let Us Stop You...... (n/t)

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. Question, are you also a fan of releasing

prisoners Straight from super max to the streets?

[Johnny Rico]

29. Given that most of the inmates in supermax will die there, the question is largely moot.

I presume that inmates who manage to make it through their sentence aren't handed a suit and a $20 bill and told, "Don't come back."

[pokerfan]

30. So you aren't actually in favor of all inmates

being placed in Supermax style prisons.

[Johnny Rico]

33. Certainly not those convicted of nonviolent felonies, no.

And since I'm in favor of full drug legalization, that would reduce the overall need for prisons by a considerable percentage.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Actually they are

This is a problem for St Quentin, since more than a few a put there for disciplinary reasons and released, psychotic state and all, directly from super max.

I am almost betting you did not know this.

Regardless sensory deprivation is considered torture. If you are ever down in Guanajuato I highly recomend the inquisition museum, you might enjoy it.

[Johnny Rico]

36. We were speaking of going from supermax to the streets, not

From supermax to a "conventional" prison.

Regardless sensory deprivation is considered torture.

I don't call 3 hots, a cot, and a b&w tv "torture". I will grant that it's a boring, miserable existence for them. Given what they did to be sent there, all I can say is...

Good.

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. So you agree with torture

noted.

[Johnny Rico]

39. Your definition. Not mine.

In any case, note away!

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. And that of international agencies

and medical experts.

The conditions at supermax does cause breakdowns and psychosis. And when these people are indeed released straight to the streets, as it has happened in the past, and they reoffend, guess what? They are not prosecutable. Yes, it has happened.

But hey, if it makes you sleep better at night, who am I to judge?

[Johnny Rico]

46. Please give me a few examples of convicted criminals being released from supermax

straight to the streets who then become immune to prosecution because of their experiences in supermax.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. California had that experience about five years ago

Guy reoffended within seventy hours hours. He was found mentally incompetent and last time I checked he's at the hospital for the criminally insane. Did I mention zero history of mental illness when he entered the system?

It led to about a day or two of questions.

Problems is the US has become in that sense as blood thirsty, in other ways, as Muslim states, eye for eye, they deserve it kind of attitudes. But when we are critical of other countries, we really are unwilling to see the log in our own eye.

They are expensive, cruel and inhuman, violate constitutional protections against cruel and inhuman punishment, but if it makes you sleep at night...why bring out these things? Sorry for intruding. USA, USA, USA.

[Johnny Rico]

49. Without more information...

It's difficult to draw any conclusion. What was his initial crime? What was his record? What was his sentence? How much of it did he serve? Did he commit additional crimes that got him sent to a supermax? What crime did he commit after being released? Was he in any sort of halfway house?

And in any case, if all you have is one case nationwide in the last five years, that's not exactly a stinging indictment of our system.

As for other countries, I'm not hesitant to criticise them for all sorts of things...but being harsh to violent criminals isn't one of them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. You want some reading, here you go

http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/crcl/vol41_2/fellner.pdf

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Prison_System/Return_Madhouse.html

[TheKentuckian]

10. Whatever is clever but then I'm a seperate a threat from society and rehabilitation type kat

rather than a punishment focused sort.

[Uben]

12. A pick-ax, a 30 lb ball and chain, food and water

..for the most violent offenders. The rest should have to earn the priviledges they get, ie tv, radio, art supplies, etc. I truly believe in the merit system in our prisons. The better you behave, the more priviledges you receive, with a three strikes and you don't get squat clause. If they truly want to rehab, they will be willing to do what is necessary to get what they want.

[LanternWaste]

13. A library of books covering an expansive range...

A library of books covering an expansive range and videos. A TV room with basic cable. Art supplies. Writing material. Board games. Elective classroom instruction. etc.

I don't perceive these as fluff... and they're in prison already.

[Nye Bevan]

16. Better exclude "Clue" from the available board games.

Lest we give any felons ideas about killing colonels in libraries with candlesticks.

[Snake Alchemist]

15. Why not eliminate the free weight and just offer cardio? nt

[dionysus]

17. ritual burning of Oasis CDs.

[WillowTree]

23. A CD player and an unlimited supply of Andy Gibb CDs.

[treestar]

24. Whatever will make it easier for guards to handle them

I would think they'd have to let off steam somehow. In order not to build up anger and hatred, etc.

[backscatter712]

25. Maybe some marijuana to mellow them out. n/t

It would make them easier for the guards to handle...

[Enrique]

26. when we're done with prisoners

let's do food stamp recipients again, that was fun.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Depends on the philosophy of the prison system

If you want to fully try to rehabilitate the person, school, drug rehab, life skills, work skills...see places like sweeden.

If you don't believe in that, insert any American prison at present.

Yeah, yeah short term the Swedish aproach is more expensive, long term ours is.

[white_wolf]

35. Yeah and the Swedish system is actually somewhat effective.

Ours is a disgrace. I'm willing to bet a lot of people who go in for non-violent crimes come out violent criminals, because that's they only way to survive in there.

[XemaSab]

42. I would guess that most offenders in Sweden

aren't illiterate gang members, like they are here.

And to answer your question, I think reading, writing, cleaning, and breaking rocks most of the day should be sufficient.

Kitchen duty and school should be rewards for good behavior.

(I have a friend who went to prison in Japan for heroin possession. Apparently it was VERY austere, but he said it taught him self-discipline and ultimately saved his life. I think something like that would be effective here.)

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. The Japanese do not even feed their prisoners

the US Department of State needs to bring food to the prison, or they will starve. No, not kidding. But going to prison in Japan is beyond the pale.. and violates codes of honor that most of us do not comprehend... so Japan is not even a good comparison. I mean here, going to the big house is a matter of honor for the gangs, the Yakuza actually avoids it.

Suffice to say the recidivism in Sweden though is far much lower than it is in the US.

We USED to try, early in the Prison Reform system. We don't even try anymore, and in the end it is far more expensive to have the kind of policies we do.

Granted SOME people can never be reformed and sent back to society, but a non violent criminal enters prison these days as such, leaves and returns as a violent offender. I do not consider that very cost effective. In fact, I consider that a really poor investment.

[tkmorris]

44. Of course they feed their prisoners Nadin

FWIW I agree with everything else you've said in this thread that I can recall. I was actually pleasantly surprised and was going to throw a "kudos!" your way.

Then you dropped that little fact nugget in there. Why on earth do you believe the Japanese don't feed their prisoners? I'm sure there's a grain of truth at the heart of it somewhere but let's not blow it completely out of proportion.

[nadinbrzezinski]

45. Here is a report, of many for you to read

A careful look at the Japanese prison system strongly suggests that the lack of serious prison disturbances may be related to the draconian discipline and the fear among prisoners and not necessarily the general contentment of the Japanese prison population. Order is achieved at a very high cost: the cost of violating fundamental human rights and failing to observe international standards the country has ratified.

http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/publisher,HRW,,JPN,3ae6a7ee4,0.html

If we complaint about conditions in US Prisons, Japanese Prisons make ours look like oh wonderful places to be at... even supermax

But as I said, this is one of many... curiosity is sometimes not a good thing.

Nor do I need your kudos.

Have a good day.

[rug]

31. They should have internet access to DU

and on DU, access only to your posts.

[white_wolf]

34. That would be cruel and unusual punishment.

[Electric Monk]

37. Jarts

[slackmaster]

41. Indoor shooting ranges with free handgun rental and generous rations of ammunition

[Xyzse]

51. Uhhh...

My Little Pony on a Gaming System?