I have a contact at the Maryland Division of Corrections who got a hold of me today concerned about a new policy handed down by the state of Maryland. Apparently inmates at ECI and Westover now will be able to hang out in their cells and practice their skills on their Play Station 2's while they serve time for rape, child molestation, murder, theft, burglary, drug dealing, or whatever crime landed them there. This is already the policy in Western Maryland. These Play Station 2's are not provided or paid for by the state but they now get to use them as part of their "rehabilitation".
You may be aware that some years ago Maryland allowed the use of DVD players for inmates and it didn't work out so well as the use of pornography was prohibited but the inmates none the less acquired porn and DVD's in the prison cells were eventually banned. Now they get to use play station 2's to pass the long days, something that is not going over well with many at the local DOC.
"While all of our standards of living are going down" my contact said; "the standard of living for those incarcerated for child molestation and drug dealing is going up."
Along with the issues and problems of prosecuting child sex offenders in this state, he went on to explain to me the "good conduct credits" many prisoners get depending on what level of sex offense they are convicted on. "Many child molesters get more good conduct credits (10 days a month reduced sentence) then someone who gets caught in possession of a joint."
There are clearly problems in our "system."
After that call, I spoke to someone else who had a different opinion. They didn't feel like it was a big deal. They felt it was more of a bi-product of staffing. Another words, too many prisoners, not enough correction officers. They felt the play station would keep the prisoners more "occupied" and gave the prison more leverage over the prisoner.
Personally, I don't really think we should be allowing prisoners who are incarcerated for such serious crimes, access to these types of luxury items.
Interestingly, Prisoners in the UK have been supplied with computer games and consoles costing thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money since 2008.
What do you think?
43 comments:
They are in prison not a dorm room! Prisoners will not be deterred from returning if they have these luxuries.
This is absolutely nuts. Liberals at work. I did read a study that this does not work. It will increase crime because of non punishment. Some criminals live better in jail than they do at their home , thus , they commit crimes without thinking about going to the jail , they look at it as a reward , going to spend time is a vacation for them.
If the DVD players didnt work due to pornography being passed around,why are they expecting Playstations to be any different?
They play DVD's as well.
Hopefully everyone who is struggling to pay their utilities, keep a car on the road to get to work in order to see their salaries reduced, see your expenses constantly increasing, will think about the criminals housed in prisons paid for by our taxes. They get their education, 3 meals and snacks, a roof over their heads, medical treatment and unlimited recreational time either in or out of their cells. Think about it people. Now how many of you have a Playstation. I'm struggling to keep basic cable going. Oh and by the way, ECI just got new satelite dishes for the inmates. The inmates don't worry about gas prices, food prices, etc. So keep on working people or else they won't be able to enjoy the things you can't afford.
ps2 is also a dvd player....lol
What happened to teaching these people a skill or educating them?
Poor planning only encouraging the revolving door.
These computer games are the downfall of this culture. They all should be removed from the shelves.
If i'm not mistaken those game systems are able to play dvd's as well as play games. Is it prison or a bedroom?
This is another way to opacify the cons while administration looks the other way. The only cons that dont get good time/work cxredits are non-support cases serving time.They pay upor do the time imposed.BIG JOKE HUH.
So we pay taxes money for them them to get three
meals, heat and they get to have game systems. Meanwhile their homeless people out here that can't even get three hot meals over shelter. There something wrong with the system.
Yes, PS2 can play DVD's. Is there a way to turn this function off? Probably not. And exactly what kind of games are they going to allow? Grand theft Auto? That's rehabilitation if I've ever seen it. I could see gams that stimulate brain function and a little hand eye coordination but the list of games allowed should look like it was designed for five and six year olds, not every game available (ie: shoot-um-up and take their $hi+ and rape the women games...).
If in prison thay should have only the bare essentials, four walls & a bed!
If you want all of the other perks of life, stay out of prison.
if inmates got money for this stuff, perhaps a ten or twenty dollar a month electric bill to each inmate would be in line?
Does the policy say they "may" have them as part of their rehab. or that they "must" have them? Big difference. Also, just have have one game or whatever you call it, something with cartoons or alphabet or something.
nothin new here,
this is why certain peoples have it better in the big house than their own; and certainly don't mind going there.
once they have a criminal record and no chance of a job or house, they give up...
I think everyone should have the right to a nintendo game.
Unless you are like me, the working poor .
I cannot afford one.
Im behind in my house payment, cant afford heat,and have very little food.
My family even go hungry sometime.
So thank you people for treating criminals better than a working person, so try to pay your employees enough to live on or they just might decide to go to prison for a better life.
And that is the way it is. No matter what kind of crap you throw this way.
Need help.
THIS IS CRAZY!!! I just lost my job & trying to sell my house before it foreclosure. I have looked and looked EVERYWHERE for a job. I am starting to think maybe I should commit a crime(I never would) & go live at ECI!! Then I won't have to "worry" about paying bills, food on the table & putting clothes on my back like most people. I can just sit there play video games all day until they call me for meal time!! WHAT A FREAKIN' JOKE!! WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO???
The day has come where Convicts live better than the Tax Payer with no responsibility. It has been on this track for the last 15 years. The difference now is the Liberal Democrats that have ruled MD Politics for years have a freind in DC. It is called Obama and "spread the wealth." A lot of people will say MD has had Republican Governors and nothing was changed. The Governor is a figure head that the MD Legislature controls and there has never been enough Republicans in the MD Legislature to say they were there. Now you are having Convicts living better than the Public. Thank the Democrats every time you vote them back into office. This is the Liberal / Progressive Democrats policy.
I forgot to mention the games and DVD's can be cut in half and used as a weapon.
OH MY GOD... that is TERRIBLE!
They only get PS1 and a little tube tv??!! That is prison!!!
They should get the same as the military is promised in their contracts. Guaranteed 2 hours sleep and 1 hot meal a day. Nowhere does it promise our military a bed, only sleep. Why should convicts have it any better than our military?
Thank you 9:31
they should not even have a outlet in thier cells let alone something to plug into it!!!!!statix
I am working my butt off just to make a living so I have a house to come home to and hopefully, put a hot meal on the table. Instead, these characters are living better than me right now (three square meals, medical bills all paid for, entertainment in their cell, what else could they ask for?) Its almost worth going in there and having everything paid for than me trying to work 80 plus hours a week just to pay my house and utilities!!!!
This is CRAZY!!! what do we need to do to put a STOP to this???!!!
1056 - LMFAO
Two societies and one will always be paying for the other, had enough yet?
We need to abolish the entire judicial system and have militia-run civilian courts.
State employees are taking such a hit finacially, but the state is still providing and increasing the standard of living for inmates. They actually suggested the inmates get paid for not working when staff was off due to furlough days. When we blew up, they thankfully realized how awful that idea was. I think inmates should get a pay cut too. Then they won't be buying video games.
Only in america!
What can we do to stop it? Probably nothing. Can we get a petition or something to stop them from having a good time in jail. It just makes me so upset that child molesters and murderers get more things than the working man.
I'll tell you something, Joe, I started reading your blog when I moved to the area in August of last year, you have really opened my eyes. Thank you for all you do for our community. You keep us aware and prove to me more and more every day that you are a man with a big heart and full of compassion. You are also a man that let's no deed go unnoticed (whether good or bad).
let them read books starting with "Crime and Punishment"
thats nothing guys!you dont even want to know what goes in in there with these inmates.they have more rights than we do.they get free education including college and the state(you)fit the bill its 100% free of charge to the inmates.now what may i ask are they going to use a college degree for when theyre released?most jobs requiring a degree also require a clean background.oh on top of video games free gym,free medical oh sorry they sometimes have a $2.00 co-pay they get to watch free cable tv which costs approximatley $8000 dollars a month at your expense.eci just installed some $40,000 in sattelite equipment for cable tv as well.all while we are in a budget crisis and cutting pay for state employees!inmates sometimes have to go to the hospital when they do the hospital is eager to give them every test known to man and any surgery they may need becuase they know the state will fit the bill.so the least of your worries should be playstations!lol
These are the same people who were not productive as free citizens and now we are continuing their bad habits by letting them have game time. How about the idea of when they get their degrees and take the classes to better themselves, have the opportunity for them to use their education earned off the taxpayers and pay the taxpayers back while still incarcerated?
keep voting for people like ruddy cane, norm conway, page elmore, omalley, even gilchrest when he was in was a complete liberal disguising himself as a true conservative! had enough yet? omalley and these minions passed 1.7 billion in tax increase on us after he was elected. and they still need more, get ready to bend over even more! unless of course..... nah, most of you are to stupid to figure it out! just keep voting democat!
They don't need anymore than the prisoners do in a county jail. Two steel bunks, a plastic matress, stainless steel toilet,sink and mirror combo unit. One communal tv with programming decided by the staff on duty. I just do not understand how they, the worst of criminals, get better treatment than those who are in a local county jail. Wait till these inmates in county jail demand the same (equal) treatment, there goes your local taxes through the roof to pamper them (equal treatment under the law).
That mpney should be spent on our young people. What we don't do for our children, most of them will end up in prison as adiult.
From the classroom to detention to alternative school to the juvenile center to the detention center to prison.
It's no wonder we have repeat offenders and those who don't care if they go to jail. It's as good in there if not better than they had it out here. What's even sicker is we're paying for all the convicts to have all this mess with our taxes.
AND THEY GET TO PLAY IT ON FLAT SCREEN TVS
I've never been in prison and don't plan on going. But, I've got no problem with people having things to occupy their minds so there won't be as much violence. WE live in such a punitive state. you people need to live in a third world country where they cut off hands and things like that. Most of you won't be satisfied without blood. You people make me sick!
"Many child molesters get more good conduct credits (10 days a month reduced sentence) then someone who gets caught in possession of a joint."
I'd like to see no reduced sentence for child molesters.
@ 8:04 PM Cry me a river... I have lived in a third world country guess what no one there wanted to go to prison because it was worse than living in the third world society. As Americans we are fortunate enough not to live in a third world country; however, there is no reason you can give me that inmates in prison should have better living conditions and more luxuries than the average citizen. I question your pronouncement of living in a punitive state? What does that mean? The people in prison broke the law and are being "punished". Would you prefer that the state provided them a free house say maybe right next to yours? I am not asking for the prisoners blood but I would prefer that their stay as a ward of state would be looked on by them as not something they would wish to repeat.
my brother is an inmate at MCI-H and called last night (collect mind you, my dime, not his) to tell me that the prison is demanding all inmates have these by next month (obviously his way of making me feel like this is a requirement, not a luxury). He is 41 years old, but still managed to say "everyone else has one, I should too" Gime me a break!
to the last comment.... i work at mci-h and it definitely is not required that any inmate have any of these things. some guys dont have tv or radios or anything...even though others have nicer flat screens than i do... believe me, its only a luxury...
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