Bypassblade Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 This caught my attention this week: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26726864 In a nutshell, prisoners are no longer allowed to receive books from outside prison; they can borrow from the prison library but the range is limited. Any prisoner studying for an FE/HE course or specialist interest is stuffed, basically. A former prison officer stated on Radio 4 that the new rules had been brought in to control the 'endemic' abuse of parcels sent into jails for prisoners. I can think of several ways in which security could be maintained whilst still allowing prisoners to receive books from outside. Why can't the prison authorities think of them, too? It seems desperately short-sighted to deprive inmates of the one thing which has to be a force for good in their lives. Shame on the government for insisting on the ban. And bloody right to, they are there for punishment it's not chuffing Butlin's I'm sick to back teeth of hearing how our poor hard done to prisoners are poorly treat. What about the victims and the families their actions destroy, sod the vermin long may they rot in prison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcoblog Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Maybe they should have done more reading before they turned to a life of crime? Try telling that to Solzenhytsyn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJeremy Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I don't think that prisons are like hotel suites. You are locked up in them for many hours a day. Having your liberty taken away is quite a punishment in itself. I am surprised that prisoners are allowed to receive parcels at the moment - when I wrote to a prisoner recently, I wasn't even allowed to send a padded card if I had wanted to (I don't send padded cards anyway). Anyway, back on topic, I think if the prison authorities had thought of an easy way to allow books without the extensive abuse that is obviously happening they wouldn't be introducing a ban on parcels (inc books). I don't think it's vindictive, posturing or unnecessary at all. The usual suspects on here are having a go at the Tories for the sake of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliceBB Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share Posted March 30, 2014 If all prisoners could be supplied with an e-reader and allowed to download books, that would be something, but I doubt funds would stretch to it. Real books can be picked up secondhand for a few pence. All it needs is someone to check the books for drugs before they are given to the prisoner. The utility of the books to the inmates surely justifies this use of the warders'/librarian's time. If drugs are found, the book is destroyed and the prisoner doesn't get it. To say that prisons aren't Butlins, it should be a punishment, etc.,etc., is to miss the point. Unimaginatively. Prisons exist not simply to punish, but to rehabilitate, in the hope that the offender may be released back into society less likely to opt for criminality and more likely to make something of their lives. Education is the key to this and to restrict or prohibit it is indeed inhumane, vindictive, and counterproductive. As for the prison authorities organising course books for inmates on formal study courses...can't see it. Not according to the ex cons they interviewed on the radio programme I heard. Relatives had to organise them. I have decided to donate my not inconsiderable library of fiction and English GCSE and A level course books (from my teaching days) to the nearest prison. Does anyone know how to go about doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penistone999 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Tory Minister just trying to act tough and be seen as being tough on crime. Too lackwicked to realise that books are a form of education and education may lead to less re-offending. Either that or they're just being aholes for the sake of it. The death penalty would guarantee they didnt re-offend. ---------- Post added 30-03-2014 at 22:51 ---------- Banged up in a cell with no TV, books or play stations results in frustration building up and it will be the poor prison guards that end up being on the receiving end of it. Most prison guards would agree with the above statement. Not if the prison guards were armed ,as they should be. At present the Guards are sitting ducks because the do-gooders wont allow them to be armed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampent Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 The death penalty would guarantee they didnt re-offend. That cow in yer avatar has more brains than you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penistone999 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 And bloody right to, they are there for punishment it's not chuffing Butlin's I'm sick to back teeth of hearing how our poor hard done to prisoners are poorly treat. What about the victims and the families their actions destroy, sod the vermin long may they rot in prison. spot on , couldnt agree more ......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampent Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 spot on , couldnt agree more ......... It looks left and right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliceBB Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share Posted March 30, 2014 However angry and vengeful you feel about prisoners generally it is still stupid and dangerous to deprive them, when behind bars, of the one possible route out of criminality. You may wish they would 'rot' all their lives in prison and a very few - the Peter Sutcliffes of this world - may well do so, but most will serve their time and be released, whatever you would prefer. Isn't it preferable to release educated, skilled, reflective and empathic individuals back onto the streets - or bored, ignorant, self-obsessed, resentful ones? ---------- Post added 30-03-2014 at 23:08 ---------- What about the victims and the families their actions destroy, sod the vermin long may they rot in prison. Nobody is defending what some convicted prisoners have done. But two wrongs don't make a right. If you allow people to educate themselves when in prison they are far less likely to harm other people when they are eventually released. Some will even work on community projects to help prevent offending by others, especially the young. Your 'argument' is nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rampent Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 However angry and vengeful you feel about prisoners generally it is still stupid and dangerous to deprive them, when behind bars, of the one possible route out of criminality. You may wish they would 'rot' all their lives in prison and a very few - the Peter Sutcliffes of this world - may well do so, but most will serve their time and be released, whatever you would prefer. Isn't it preferable to release educated, skilled, reflective and empathic individuals back onto the streets - or bored, ignorant, self-obsessed, resentful ones? ---------- Post added 30-03-2014 at 23:08 ---------- Nobody is defending what some convicted prisoners have done. But two wrongs don't make a right. If you allow people to educate themselves when in prison they are far less likely to harm other people when they are eventually released. Some will even work on community projects to help prevent offending by others, especially the young. Your 'argument' is nonsense. 100% annebb, education is the key. Some do want to reform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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