A GaGer recently asked a question about inmates being offered entertainment while in prison. Books, magazines, board games, libraries, and even religious services are offered in most prisons. But, so is television. In some cases prisoners have access to cable channels like CNN, Disney, Nick, ESPN, Weather Channel etc...
While I think they are there to be rehabilitated and not to watch TV all day in cells, it should still be provided as a privlege. However, there should be some circumstances under which television should be provided.
Television Access should be in a central location with only the guards having access to the volume and channels.
This will help to control any fights and violence over volume levels and programming. If the guards have control they can insure that the television is on proper programming.
Certain Channels like Nickelodeon, Disney, Comedy Central,Playboy, etc.... would have to be blocked.
This is for the reason that many sex offenders might be triggered while in rehabilitation. Sex Offenders will already be blocked to access to kids and anything pertaining to children like schools, festivals, daycares etc... even after released from prison. Plus if they are sexualy excited by Playboy, sex scenes in a TV show, MTV music video etc... that might make them more capable of committing a rape or other sexual offense while behind bars. Even masturbation is against the rules in prison.
The Guards would have to be required to keep it on certain programming
News, nature programs, game shows, some sports, cooking shows, The Weather Channel, and some religous programs would pretty much be the allowed programming most jails and prisons would allow. Even if they put it on a religious program the prisoners don't have to watch. They can read, play a board game, or do whatever they do until it goes off. Most prisoners around bowl game time in the US love to watch football. As long as they can behave that is not a problem. No shows like Jerry Springer, Maury, or Dr. Phil though.
What do you think about letting prisoners having access to entertainment while in prison? Do you think it could be valuable, or create more problems?
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