Page 4 | To believe that prisoners serving life sentences shouldn’t have access to luxuries like TV or gym equipment?

NimbleRoseMoose · 2025-01-22T20:51:47+00:00

Why should taxpayers fund entertainment for people who’ve committed heinous crimes?

Thegoatliesdownonbroadway · 22/01/2025 23:13

BuffaloB · 22/01/2025 23:11

Do you read the Daily Mail?
Genuine question

No, they just look at the pictures

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/01/2025 23:12

Why?

I would also add educational courses and meaningful work.

BuffaloB · 22/01/2025 23:11

Do you read the Daily Mail?
Genuine question

Blinky21 · 22/01/2025 23:10

For one it would be harder to control inmates, privileges are an important part of discipline. Also without distractions you would have an even worse mental health crisis, which would make it more dangerous for those working there. It's a really complex issue, leave running prisons to the experts

bombastix · 22/01/2025 23:08

@LondonLawyer - I think i can't find a UK case. 9 years in prison is the most for a teenager causing death by dangerous driving. Still, the possibility exists

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 22/01/2025 23:07

savingthespecs · 22/01/2025 20:53

They've lost their liberty, nothing really makes that better.

This

MumblesParty · 22/01/2025 23:07

Americano75 · 22/01/2025 22:59

Really? Do you think all murderers are like the ones you see on the telly then? Because I can assure you're they're not.

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@Americano75 can you tell me what you’re worried you might do (were it not for the grace of God) that would get you life in prison?

Mittens67 · 22/01/2025 23:06

I agree with you OP but I think it is likely the cheapest way to keep some degree of order.
Prisoners with absolutely nothing to lose ie lifers with no possibility of parole need something to motivate acceptable behaviour.
I would like more to be spent on education in prisons in general though to enable people to try to change their goals and opportunities in life when they are released. Appreciate this will make no odds to determined criminals, the genuinely evil etc but a lot of prisoners end up in a downward spiral stemming from poverty and very limited educational achievement. Anything which intervenes to alleviate this has to be a good idea both for individuals and for society so is cost effective.

Phthia · 22/01/2025 23:04

NimbleRoseMoose · 22/01/2025 21:00

I imagine there needs to be some structure to their day, whether it’s work, education, or rehabilitation programs. My issue is more with luxuries like TV or gym equipment - things that seem more like privileges than necessities. Shouldn’t the focus be on accountability and personal development rather than comfort?

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They are privileges in prison. They incentivise prisoners to behave and do work to address their offending behaviour, earn money, get qualifications etc.

Would you like to be in charge of a load of dangerous men bored out of their minds with no incentives for good behaviour or rehabilitation?

bombastix · 22/01/2025 23:02

I can definitely imagine circumstances where I might be prompted to violence - who is to say that we might let our loved ones be terrorised, abused or hurt without attempting to stop it? Or to defend ourselves from the same possibility.

It is foolish to assume all people who kill are wicked.

LondonLawyer · 22/01/2025 23:02

bombastix · 22/01/2025 22:48

Depends on your view; life sentences include

Stabbing your abusive ex husband
Killing your abusive parent
Causing death by dangerous driving as a young teenager

People do awful things. But their circumstances differ wildly

There are no "young teenagers" serving life for death by dangerous driving, I'd be prepared to bet at least a tenner on it. The max sentence possible for this did increase to life (previously 18 years, I think) recently, but it's a rare sentence, and I can't imagine it being passed on a teenager unless there were truly exceptional circumstances.

Americano75 · 22/01/2025 22:59

MumblesParty · 22/01/2025 22:45

@Americano75 the original post is about lifers. I truly can’t imagine a situation in which I would do something so awful I’d get life in prison, so I don’t really think “there but for the grace of God go I” in this context.

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Really? Do you think all murderers are like the ones you see on the telly then? Because I can assure you're they're not.

chargeitup · 22/01/2025 22:58

Don't be ridiculous. Gyms are to keep fit. That's essential for their mental health as well as physical.

TVs you can't isolate them from the world outside or they will never be able to reintegrate

BartholomewsCat · 22/01/2025 22:57

I teach in a YOI. I’ve taught kids who were born in prison. Kids whose family contact consists of video calling to other prisons. Kids who have never used felt tips or crayons. They are transient, often with us for a couple of weeks and then shipped off elsewhere so they have no continuity of education. SEN is a huge factor. It’s a generational cycle and needs money pumped into early years care and sure start. Threads like this are started by privileged people who have the benefit of education but no experience of the world outside their bubble. There’s a saying, “there but for the grace of god go I”.

bombastix · 22/01/2025 22:57

Manslaughter can be up to a life sentence

I am thinking of Sally Challen. She would have fallen under this mean idea

DinosaurMunch · 22/01/2025 22:56

bombastix · 22/01/2025 22:53

And in the case of manslaughter, let's say the abused wife or child gets convicted of that, then they can get life. Does it happen? Yes it does.

Rarely though. Most manslaughter sentences are more like 10.years so you might get out after 5.

bombastix · 22/01/2025 22:53

And in the case of manslaughter, let's say the abused wife or child gets convicted of that, then they can get life. Does it happen? Yes it does.

bombastix · 22/01/2025 22:51

Yes they do. If you murder someone it is a mandatory life sentence

MumblesParty · 22/01/2025 22:50

bombastix · 22/01/2025 22:48

Depends on your view; life sentences include

Stabbing your abusive ex husband
Killing your abusive parent
Causing death by dangerous driving as a young teenager

People do awful things. But their circumstances differ wildly

@bombastix do many of the criminals in those cases get life?

bombastix · 22/01/2025 22:48

Depends on your view; life sentences include

Stabbing your abusive ex husband
Killing your abusive parent
Causing death by dangerous driving as a young teenager

People do awful things. But their circumstances differ wildly

DinosaurMunch · 22/01/2025 22:48

User09678 · 22/01/2025 21:12

Have access to library. Grow food/care for a garden

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A lot of them are barely literate. Have had terrible, wasted lives. I really don't see what the point is of not letting them watch TV. Do you just want to make their life as miserable as possible? Why?

mathanxiety · 22/01/2025 22:45

MoodySky · 22/01/2025 20:57

Think of how you would manage a person who has nothing to lose.

These things are privileges and can be taken away for bad behaviour. It's a really good way of being able to deal with prisoners.

Yes to this.

MumblesParty · 22/01/2025 22:45

Americano75 · 22/01/2025 22:23

It doesn't make you a bad person, and my own sympathy doesn't extend to sex offenders. But a lot of people in jail tend to fall into the 'there but for the grace of God go I' category.

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@Americano75 the original post is about lifers. I truly can’t imagine a situation in which I would do something so awful I’d get life in prison, so I don’t really think “there but for the grace of God go I” in this context.

ilovesooty · 22/01/2025 22:44

Anniedash · 22/01/2025 22:24

OP most of MN is hard left. They would scrap prison altogether if they could.

After all, it’s the scummy victims who are at fault for complaining about criminals. So unkind and right wing to want to see people punished for crime.

What's hard left about being concerned about the levels of safety in prisons, particularly for staff?

RandomButtons · 22/01/2025 22:44

Nope, can’t get upset about inmates having access to something very cheap that will help stop them going totally nuts and being more dangerous to society when they are released.