Either way they're still gonna be called a bitch by a man they dont even know.

i know someone that actually prefers to be in jail because he can't find a job or live on his own. He always says "if they get me, well at least I have a free roof over my head, I can actually eat, and other things"

It's a bit messed up that you would reward CRIMINALS with a video game system....They should be forced to sit there and think about what they did the entire time, it shouldn't be a rewarding experience AT ALL. Some of the harder tiers of prison won't even allow the inmates to write notes/books, thats how it should be.

fuck no. i dont want my tax money going towards video games for prisoners. they're there to serve time for shit they did. they aren't there to have fun.

Absolutely. A RROD 360 or YLOD PS3 should be adequate. Or a Wii with only Order Up to play.

Hey you killed someone go play video games in prison on tax payer money. Prisoners should get the bare minimum.

I would rather they get an education. Turn them into productive members of society.

You might wonder why I would afford them something that many people sadly don't have access to. I'm from Canada, a place where prison sentences are notoriously short (if existent at all). I believe that offenders will continue to offend if they have nothing to rely on once they're released from prison. If they have no education, if they have no job prospects or experience, if they have no marketable skills or treatment, as soon as they are released from prison, they will turn right back to what they know. I'm not saying that prison should be a place to go to get better, but if the gov't sees long-term prison sentences as cruel and unusual, prison sentences will remain short, and offenders will continue to re-offend.

So no Nintendo or Xbox until they finish their homework.

No.

They ARE allowed. It is up to the prisons to put electronic entertainment in. Depending on the severity of the crime, you may be allowed to watch TV in a f-ing dorm room with other inmates. Hooking up a game console isn't crossing any sort of line. Depends of the crime. If you have a few years for affiliation or conspiracy, then who cares. If you are in for murder or any sort of extreme violence then forget it.

Not a good idea anyways, they can make anything out of the consoles and either stab someone or do something you guys know what I mean. and I agree, they are there to serve there time!

They're being punished, aren't they? How is getting to play video games a punishment? They should serve their time. They can play video games as much as they want when they get out.

Wow.

sure why not. lets not be selfish

NO!

People in prison are in there for a reason. They are already getting treated like they are on a luxury vacation when really they should be given a thin slice of bread and a cup of water for the week. Seriously, criminals get way to many liberties in jail and all on tax payer dollars, completely unfair to the actual people in society who know how to not break the law.

i wonder how many inmates will be murdered over who beat who in a game....or will get killed/robbed for their systems.... NO JUST NO, theyve been stripped of their rights.

For murderers and rapists, no. For non violent crimes I see no problem with letting them play games. And an fyi, for the most part the only difference between them and you is that they got caught, so stop with the lynch mob mentality.

Prison takes away freedom, which is a far greater punishment than some of you are aware of. Playing video games doesn't suddenly make it into a luxury resort, its still the worst place on earth. They can be killed over nothing, raped by other inmates, or just spend 23 hours a day in a 10 foot cell, and that destroys the mind more than anything. Imagine stuffing magazines under your shirt everyday before you go to lunch cause someone might try to stab you with a sharpened spoon handle, that kind of fear is worse than anything most people experience.

Now I'm generally hard on criminals, but just like there are awful people who maybe deserve all of that, there are also ones that made mistakes and (like it or not) may return to society some day. I don't see games being some grand present, more like an efficient way to pacify them, instead of weight lifting, which increases testosterone and leaves us with bigger stronger convicts returning to the street.

I don't think games will do any good inside, they'll end up raging and start stabbing inmates over a game lol

Wow people are acting like it's a sin to play a freaking video game.

Who says they aren't in some jails? Me and my "roommates" played Hitman on PS2 whole day and night :)

No. They chose to end up in the can therefore, they took responsibility and should've been aware of the consequences. If not, it's their fault and I hope they regret it.

Games should not be allowed in Prison. The people in prison have it too soft now. Here in Ireland they get fed better than I feed myself every day , they have TV , movies and games. These people are in prison to serve time not to be pampered

Next article we will see will be, "Inmate fatally stabbed in prison, beat fellow inmate in a game of Mario Kart"

Is the most important question really whether games should be allowed in prison, or where the money to pay for them should come from?

Prison isn't some holiday resort. There should be no fun in prison.

Well I live in Finland and prizoners DO have PS2s in prizons. But the main point of sentence here, is to rehabilate the criminal and make him fit the society once again. That is why the prizon system in here gives inmates a possibility for free education while still treating them as humans. When it comes to gaming consoles in prizon, I do see their good side in relieving the stress among inmates and in that way making them calmer. But I should add that one can argue if it's morally right to give a triple murderer extra entertainment.
In my opinion the one thing that should be offered in prizon, would be education. With criminals having something to go back to after serving their time, they are far less likely to commit crimes again. Treating them as human beings will also help a lot.
So in conclusion, no I don't think gaming consoles are to be offered for convicts, but I still don't agree with majority here saying that one should just be locked up and the key thrown away. Education, education, education, it is the best thing to keep criminals off the streets

Not every prisoner is a murderer or rapist.some are in there for not payin tv licence and petty things. Them kinda offences should be fine but the murderes should be rigged up to high voltage electrobes and a copy of battlefield 3 and made to play 24/7

Depends on the crime committed really. Some prisoner I wouldn't like to see ever released, and of course in turn wouldn't like to see them enjoying their time in prison.

But at the same time there are many others who committed relatively minor crimes, the removal of their freedom is really, punishment enough. I think video games and positive experiences generally can only have a positive influence on their behavior.

Obviously only games like Super Mario and so forth though.

No, because playing video games causes violence, remember?

Each prisoner must be required to play FFXIII everyday for 16 hours.

I think that this is a good idea. Not all prisoners are horrible. Most of them are in there for marijuana related incidents!

Really do those people deserve anything? Some shouldn't be even breathing. Video games? Most definitely not.

Prison is a place for people who have done wrong and is put there as punishment. Video games is entertainment. Why is it even questioned whether video games are there for these people to be entertained while they are suppose to be doing time for their crime?

They should only be allowed to play bad games.

To be honest though I bet even a lot of people who said no on here. That if they were in prison they would be wanting it. And don't tell me you wouldn't because if your in there for 20 years you would love the idea to play it to pass the time. It does make it less of a punishment yes but still.

they shouldn't be given such luxuries. Food, Water, Hole to %$^6 in. thats too much if you ask me

I think that only should be allowed to prisoners that behaved well for a year or something.

You live once and if they behave well for it let them have a little down time with an inocent pass time to make them understand good not evil.

Also this matter should depend with each prisoner profile.

i say yes. true some people who raped lil kids should not be allowed to enjoy life at all. but what about people who robbed or parking tickets.. child support i dont see whats wrong if they were to have a lil fun. even without the video games they still play ball and watch tv.

Personally I say no because the last time I checked that is supposed to be a punishment.

Maybe for minimum security or people on good behavior, but to give something like that to an inmatecould be dangerous, there's so many parts he could turn into a weapon.

On the other hand it could help calm people down, releive some anger, and maybe even bring some happiness possibly bringing the overall hostility down in the prison.

It could go both ways, but if the goal is to rehabilitate i could definitely see this helping

First off, prisoners should be allowed video games in prison as long as they are reasonable. Being a correctional officer i know what these people have to live with everyday. They DO still have rights, not all of the rights we have, but still some. Recreation is one of them. Video games are a form of rec. Think of it this way....would you rather have a fully entertained and quiet offender, or would you want them to be crazy, bored, and fighting all the time. In the eyes of a correctional officer video games are good for them. It entertains the prisoners, keeps them quiet, calm, and happy. Even though those who do not work or have not worked at these facilities do not understand...we want happy prisoners. It makes our day much easier. Plus it does help them ease into what life is like outside prison. so don't just think with your biased opinions on how prisoners should live, think of those who deal with them everyday. The prisoners have life in prison more rough than you think.

Allowing video games in prison will maybe teach a criminal to play videogames instead of commiting crimes. Although prisoners who are spending life in jail should not be allowed to play videogames.

SO much hate.

Popcorns, where art thou when I need thee? Idiots arguing over an article. Yes, now it's interesting.

It won't stop gangs, murders, rapes, extortions, drug sales or any other types of criminal activities in prison.
If anything you'll get pieces of consoles be made into weapons or you'll have other prisoners murder each other just for more time on the video games.
Can you imagine how easy it'd be to stash away lethal shanks, drugs or other contraband inside the consoles?
The new slimmer PS3 with its disc open slot is just another way to hide contraband.
I'm just saying prison/jail are supposed to be punishments and not a luxurious vacation.
Hell it's upsetting enough as American tax payers have to pay to keep these monsters alive.
In my opinion if your guilty of murder, rape, pedophilia or are a criminal leader should automatically warrant the death penalty.
But that'll never happen so yeah.

Give them mario party and let god sort them out

Sure why not. Tournaments and all. Oh, wait... that is a privilege. One offered to society that follows the laws and stays out of prision. So no, go to prision lose entertainment. Rehabilitation does not include reaching level fifty in borderlands 2.

NO
if people are in prison they are in for a reason
they shouldn't be allowed to enjoy themselves