Luxuries in prison?

[xolily]

I went to visit my nan in hospital yesterday and when I got there she'd just got a TV card for 3 days which cost her £10 (daylight robbery if you ask me)! She was ranting on (as oldies do) about the fact that she shouldn't "bloody have to pay for the TV in hospital when criminals in prison get it for free". I generally ignore my nans rants but on this, I think I have to agree =/ I believe prisoners should receive the basics - 3 meals a day, running water, bedding etc but TVs, money, games consoles, pool tables etc just takes the biscuit imo. They're there to be punished, and of course they're not gonna enjoy the experience of being locked up.. but the prison system shouldn't be trying to make it "nice" for them, they should hate it as much as possible! They have gyms to use, libraries, free education, different sorts of classes... yeah, it's all positive stuff, but us law-abiding citizens have to pay for all this stuff on the outside, is it really fair!? What're your opinions?

 

[v2007]

I feel exactly the same as you and your Nan.

They are there to be punished not have a better life than some of the people who are currently living outside of the Prison System.

Its sad but i imagine some of them re-offend because its a much more cushy life in there than it is out here.

V xxxx

 

[LandN]

After spending a bit of time in hospital i think i spend 50quid on the tv not to mention the costs of parking for my family

But i dont believe that they should have tvs in prison, they are in there for a reason and that reason is to be taught a lesson from whatever crime they have commited, and to be shown behave in that way then you will have no luxuries. No wonder people dont care about going back to prision, and when some prisioners when released go on benifets and get a house and stuff i wouldnt really call it much of a punisment, considering they commited that crime in the first place, they didnt have to do it yet they did and they get things for free Just my view Not too sure though how prision life really is though.

 

[LandN]

Ive just read my post and realised that some things dont make any sense and a few spelling mistakes I am really tired though

 

[kiwimama]

no way should there be any luxuries for prisoners. I struggle to get my head around that there are good people, families out there trying to live good decent lives but go through incredible hardship yet people who have commited crimes who get everything handed to them. Not fair at all!
There are many who intentionally go out and reoffend to get back in prison because it's easier than living on the outside. Heard a case of a guy who got let out and committed an armed robbery the same day to be put back in... Definately shows that it isn't any kind of punishment.

 

[special_kala]

Prison should be horrible.

No tv maybe only books.
Crap food
they should have to work (for free!!) or study
no gyms

those two sickos who killed james bulger came from working class familys so they actually lived better in prison then they did out

 

[lulu61388]

i see nothing wrong with offering classes to better a person inside the prison system. it isn't just about punishment but rehabilitation as well. and a person can work out without a gym. could you imagine how angry a person would be if they spent 24 hours a day in a tiny box for months or years at a time? and what would they do the minute they are out?

i don't agree with television, gaming consoles or movies. books, playing cards, chess/checkers, classes and jobs i am fine with. i'd rather the prisoners do something constructive with the time i am paying for them to be in there rather than have them spend their days getting closer and closer to boiling over and coming out only to re-offend out of frustration.

 

[aob1013]

Prison is a hotel these days, so yeah i do aree with your Gran. Prison should be a boring shithole with nothing to do, crap food, and staring at cell walls. This country is full of people and thier 'rights' these days .. i don't think people should have any at prison.

 

[helen1234]

i see what your saying, no tv shouldnt have to paid for in hospitals i think thats a joke.

but i dont think you can compare the two though.

prisons are categorized into the most serious offenders down to petty criminals, and depending n what they've done or how they've behaved they go down the cat's.

my oh served 2 yrs in jail and believe me it is not all what the media portrays it to be.

he started in a remand prison no tv's locked up 23hrs a day. they socialise for 1 hr a day.
then he moved to the next cat down. he had to earn tokens for the tv, he got this by working separating coat hangers or something like that. he got something like £2 a day he had to save them up and get what he wanted like game boys trainers etc out of the argos cataglogue. so basically he went without. the money you get from working pays for deodrant, shampoo, showergel, toothpaste etc. there's not alot left over for any luxaries.
he wasnt even allowed to wear a watch.
the food was rank, dry processed crap basically and no luxaries in between unless you spent what you'd earned on a bar of chocolate or such like.

then because he'd behaved the last 6 months he moved to an open prison where he worked 15 hrs 7 days a week bagging up seeds in a factory they he earned money but couldnt spend it till he came out, we used it as a deposit on a house, now alot of people will turn their nose up thinking thats not fair, but i would rather see a prisoner paying taxes to the government than sit on their asses, i would rather see an inmate doing something positive with a jail sentence, he didnt get fed in that jail because of his working hours so ate chips from the chippy with the allowance he got. he got a phone card and he paid for that out his own allowance too which was his wages so no money from the government was spent on him, he solely gave back.
people in jails arent animals they've often taken the wrong path we have to rehabilitate these people change how they think, not treat them like dogs. didnt we move on from concentration camps along time ago?......

the biggest punishment of jail is being taken away from their families, it crucified my oh and i swear i'll never step foot in a jail again they stink they are flea ridden. my oh didnt have a shower on his own in private for nearly 2 yrs. told when to turn lights off, eat, sleep when your told to. he got verrucas on his feet, and flea bites from ancient pillows and blankets. this is how it should be my oh wont be going back in a hurry.
alot do re-offend but a heck of alot dont as well.

 

[debbie7155]

if you cant do the time dont do the crime..

& also, no matter how hard your up bringing is.. you always have a choice to either lead a good life or a bad one,

why should we have to pay for prisoners to be kept in luxury prisons, food,games,tv, etc

& i believe they should be made to pay back every penny it has cost us tax payers to keep them in prison to re-pay for their crimes if money has been involved,
not just a prison sentance (thats too easy for them now) then maybe they will think twice about doing more crimes

bring back capital punishment...thats another story... but if we showed harder punishments like we did many many yrs ago or like other countries do then i think the majority wont re-offend

so no its not fair having to pay for tv in hospitals x

 

[PeanutBean]

I was going to say that not having been in prison I don't know what luxuries are available but I suspected nothing like the press like to portray. So thank you Helen for your post, that sounds much more like my own suspicions. I think people forget the impact of confinement. The removal of freedom is the punishment, we don't live in the dark ages and even prisoners have human rights that entitle them to a certain standard of living. I don't want my taxes to go on degrading people and physically punishing them.

The prison system should be almost entirely about rehabilitation with some long term space for very serious offenders who have got life (I do think life should mean life). I don't think prison does or can work as a deterrent.

 

[PeanutBean]

Sorry just read the last post properly so wanted to add that with every cell of my body I am against capital punishment for so many reasons. It's quite clear from the US states that have it that it acts as no further deterrent to offending. It is an abominable thing for any country to have. People don't resist breaking the law because of the punishments on offer, they do it because living by the law is rewarding enough.

 

[special_kala]

The prison with all the worst murderers, rapists and peodophiles (broadmore???) have a Christmas party!!

 

[x_WelshGirl_x]

I agree with Helen, it's not all what the media make it out to be, my OH served 10months in prison, his report to the judge stated he has sever PTSD, yet never received help from anyone in there after being out for 2 yrs he is now getting the help he needs.
But he had to work for his phone cards, only being let out for fresh air an hour a day if that. he did get his maths GCSE, a painting & decorating qualification, a few other stuff. He absolutely HATED it in there, was worse being in there than being in afghanistan. he said there was one guy got out before christmas was his first christmas at home in 5-6 years! people do re-offend because it's probably easier to be in there than in the real world, but for people who LIKE their freedom its another story.
And i dont even know how the ones who get out get a house etc, We tried as we were overcrowded when he come to my house on tag, he even served his country but nothing,we've done it all on our own.
Not everyone inside is a criminal, like helen said, they've just took the wrong path, being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Although i have to say, in a way im glad my OH got arrested got sent to prison, as he was due to go back to afghanistan, he may of come home in a box! not nice to think about! he believes as he hasnt completed the last month of his tour he wants to go back - not a chance in hell!

 

[special_kala]

um...everyone in prison is a criminal thats why they are there!

 

[taperjeangirl]

This winds me up no end!!

My OH works in a prison, the stories he comes home with piss me right off!

The prisoners there are entitled to everything.

Games consoles
TV
SKY TV (they can pay for sky movies if they want!)
DVD player
Internet use

They have full use of a gym (personal trainer included!), education department, library etc etc

Tick on catalogues so they can swan about in designer gear

Free Prescriptions

A choice of meals every night, its like a friggin buffet

But this next one really gets me! The prisoners write a list every week of what luxuries they want, and a prison officer goes into town to pick it all up!!!!

So they sit there watching their sky TV, eating a Subway, smoking fags and whatever else they ORDERED from Argos

All the while, we have started having to pay for ALL school stuff for Gemma including art equipment, food and aprons for Home Economics, because the school cannot afford it?!

AND there are some kids in families who cant afford sky tv and games consoles yet these people who committed crimes are getting a free and easy ride and whatever they want?!

Prisons here should be reviewed, its shocking. They go on and on about it being their human rights, but IMO if you break the law you should be made to suffer the consequences, but that just isnt happening in our prisons.

They should be treated the way American prisoners are!!!!


Sorry, rant over!

 

[helen1234]

prison is so easy is it,

how many imates commit suicide a year. because its so lovely isnt it.
how many come out of jail being raped, bullied, hepatitis c, aids, verrucas, head lice, flea bites, mentally screwed up. and drug addicts. because believe me it happens but the media doesnt tell you that part.

oh well lets just bring dungeons back and have people eat porridge and water for the rest of their lives. or even better get a hitler to come back, and we just have all criminals no matter what they've done shot in the head as the leave court then, that'll solve te problem,


xmas party lol, where you read that daily mail.?

my oh got a xmas dinner, slice of processed turkey a few bits of new potato and veg. they had church in the morning, and in the afternoon, a church choir came and sang.

and inmates are giving back into society most inmates work while inside packing something or other.

they dont get given anything they dont work for, the cells are 10ft x 6ft and a small window.

geez how shaded are some people in this tread. why do people just get n the band wagon wen someone says something they clearly have no idea what they are saying.

2 wrongs in this world don't make a right. cos there's so much wrong in other parts of our society dont wave a finger and randomly point at the prison system when its not true.

some people in this thread can only give one sentence replies cos they dont know what they talking about.

there's people in jail who got themselves into debt with council tax. or like my oh was beat up by 10 blokes outside a nightclub but because he kicked his legs while being pinned down and broke a chaps jaw, he was sent to jail for section 18 gbh. he got 4 yrs.
self defence couldnt be used because he had shoes on and they are classed as weapons .

i'm not saying imates should get a cushy life maybe some find it easier than others, my oh says thats because they dont want their family and mates know how weak you actually feel in jail. but i've seen what a jail looks like on the inside with my own 2 eyes. and it makes your skin crawl even visiting i felt like a criminals.

 

[emilyjade]

I think some people are forgetting that these people have done a crime and are where they belong. everyone has a choice in life and if you want to choose the wrong one you get punished for it. why should offenders get it all handed to them on a plate? its disgusting imo and yes most people go on to re-offend dont that prove they have an easy ride because if it was so awful surely they wouldn't do any crime again as the punishment could be prison...

 

[taperjeangirl]

my OH works in a high security prison, murderers, rapists etc, they are just about to bring back in paedophiles aswell.

I dont want these people living off my taxes in luxury.

I dont know if the prison system is different in England Helen? I am sure there are people in the prison here who are not liking it, of course.

But everyday my OH speaks to prisoners and has worked there for 8 years, he never once has heard one of them say they hated it, "its an alright life" and "its easy living til i get out" have been mentioned .

All he hears them moan about is that they don't like what colour he is painting their cell.
and that they have run out of fags.

Everyday he comes home pissed off that someone who scooped someones eyeballs out with a spoon is living the life of luxury while we have to work and struggle every month.

 

[coccyx]

Think primary role of prison is punishment. get them out on chain gangs that would fill their time. Why should they have aChristmas party????? They are fed and watered and have somewhere to sleep. Gave up rights when committed the crime, don't tell me they are all innocent!!!