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

[NimbleRoseMoose]

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

So what do they do all day?

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

Trump would like to bring back the chain gangs.

They go to prison AS a punishment not FOR more punishment

I feel like, if left to their own devices things would get worse. Violent men (and women!) with endless time to plan more violence, which in turn will lead to needing more guards - ultimately more expensive and dangerous than buying a few TV sets and bits of equipment.

I work in a prison. It’s already hard enough. This would just make it even more dangerous.

They have lost their freedom. What else do you want?

I always thought people went to prison mainly to keep the rest of us safe from them

You do not want men trapped in a closed space without access to something to burn off some steam. That's how riots happen.

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.

This. How can these people be expected to have nothing to do all day, and then not erupt with frustration? The prison workers would be the ones paying the price.

What should they do instead? Sit in a bare cell all day until they crack up and attack someone?

The punishment is the total loss of their liberty. If they can earn small luxuries as TV through good behaviour that will give them incentives to get on with doing their time and not be disruptive.
And such luxuries are privileges that can be withdrawn if they do misbehave.

They have to pay for TV and earn privileges to go to the gym.

Great idea. Lock a load of violent people up with nothing whatsoever to do in overcrowded environments.

A bunch of bored, violent people trapped together with nothing to do, nothing to work towards and nothing to lose.... what could possibly go wrong.

Yes and to rehabilitate to benefit society in the long run, obviously it doesn't always work but the aim is there.

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?

If you're interested in learning more about how to deal with violent people, this year's Reith lectures on BBC sounds are fascinating.

We really don’t want to live in a world where basic human rights are withheld for certain people because they’ve done bad things - it opens up Pandora’s box and it takes one psycho in power to decide that they’re going to extend to for example women who have abortions.

Whether you like it or not we have a duty to care for the health of prisoners. Whose health already cost an absolute fortune. Taking away these things will plummet their physical and mental health and increase suicide risk and I’m not sure it’s worth the fiscal disaster so a few people can sit smugly at home knowing people they don’t know and have never met can’t watch the TV or lift weights.

I really doubt that an ancient TV and basic gym equipment is costing the tax payer loads.
And like a few PP said, stuff like that is privileges and prisoners earn them. Having something to behave for, keeps other prisoners and staff safe.

Prisoners DO work within the prison and also have access to education albeit limited.

What kind of personal development do you expect someone who’ll never leave prison to show? I don’t think you realise just how bad the system already is and how much they have to do to access these privileges.

A gym enables people to maintain, and build their general fitness. Especially considering they can hardly go for a swim, or run a marathon. General health and fitness not only encourages good endorphins, but reduces ill health, decreases potential medications, and need to access medical services - lessening those taxpayers costs you were talking about.

Chain gangs never went away

I consider exercise to be essential to being healthy so yes they should have access to the gym.