Video games are a part of prisoner rehabilitation
by Conrad Quilty-Harper 
{ Jul 3rd 2006 at 2:25PM }
The issue of video games in prisons has resurfaced; this time the publicity surrounds a private prison in Florida purchasing two PlayStation 2 systems (with inmate commissary, not with tax dollars) as part of an attempt to relax prisoners. This comes after recent debates over the right of prisoners to play video games, with Missouri first removing violent games after a blunder that resulted in prisoners shooting virtual cops in GTA, and then banning the use of games outright after a new Governor took office. Currently the overwhelming majority of prisons in the U.S.A. do not allow prisoners access to games.Hernando County Jail Assistant Warden Russell Washburn told the St. Petersburg Times:
"I'd rather them be thinking about race cars than how I'm mad at someone... I don't want it portrayed that all they do is sit around and play PlayStation. I would agree that's not right if that's all you do. But this is just part of the rehabilitation. You can't throw them into a place and not give them anything to do and expect no problems. ... This is not a warehouse."
We've previously reported on the positive aspects of allowing prisoners to play video games as part of the rehabilitation process: Oregon's game-friendly jails (1, 2) show how video games can help calm prisoners and reduce violent behavior inside prisons. Shouldn't that be all we need to know? If video games make the jobs of prison staff easier and potentially reduces the rate of prison suicides, then arguments of principle like Maj. Robert Lucas', an administrator with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, statement that jail is "not fun and games" should be irrelevant.
I have an inkling that the real reason the "video games in prison" issue has been susceptible to such unwarranted attention (and sensational reporting) is due to inherent controversies with video games themselves. Why is the overall topic of entertainment in prisons being ignored? No one seems to have a problem with prisoners watching TV or DVDs, so it's reasonable to suggest that this particular problem has nothing to do with prisoner rehabilitation. Instead, this entire "controversy" shows all the hallmarks of being a thinly veiled extension of the ongoing resistance to video game media by out of touch (and/or vote grabbing) political figures.
[Thanks, Babylonian]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
student @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:38PM
agreed... there will be a time in the day when prisoners are allowed to be in the rec room, whether they have video games or not. I think that games like GTA should be withheld but i don't see why they can't play DDR or super smash bros :).
EatingPie @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:44PM
Had I not a friend going to prison, with some new, albiet limited, insight into the system, I would probably leave a very different comment. But here goes...
Prison is boring. Cruelly boring. I also do not believe society is largely intent on rehabilitation, but removing prisoners for our own protection. While in some instances, that is necessary, it should not be the SOLE or PRIMARY form prisons take. Unfortunately, I firmly believe they do.
So, let's show some compassion, make their lives less boring, and let them play a very few games once in a while. Sure, GTA is incredibly irresponsible. But MechWarroir? How about Halo? These are "violent" but do not direct the inmate's ire at a real (or virtual representation of a real) target.
-Pie
Eric @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:48PM
I think the prisoners should be allowed to play video games. But I think they should only be allowed games rated E...for Everyone...
Reasoning for having them…
1) Prisoners have always had access to some form of pastime/hobby/entertainment ..ie books, instruments, tv to name a few. Game consoles are just “newer” form of technology/entertainment that they can use to pass the time.
2) I’m sure there’s truth to the “calming factor” of playing video games…it kills time like crazy.
Reasoning for E rated games.
2) Hypothetically, (VERY hypothetical) it would be an insult to let a man in prison for killing a hooker to play “GTA: pick one” and play all day killing hookers.
Anyone in for armed robbery, murder, same reason…
3) Rated E’s are fun enough to pass the time..racing, sports, etc.
Babylonian @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:51PM
Holy surprise, I double-took when I saw my name at the bottom. I completely forgot about submitting this.
Anyways, good write-up. Laugh if you want, but games and gamers really are pretty well-persecuted these days.
Robert @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:54PM
So, honestly, wouldn't a prison sim be a kickass game?
leojsoap @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:55PM
Yep, once again, video games should be put on the same chopping block as movies, tv, and books, and yet they aren't. which is stupid.
should prisoners be allowed to watch porn/exessive violence? no.
should prisoners be allowed to read anything they want? no.
should prisoners be allowed to play questionable games? no.
Heh, give them Pokemon, they'd have nothing better to do, "Damnit Bonesaw! trade me your @$!$#@ Charlizard!"
crono141 @ Jul 3rd 2006 2:58PM
Prison Tycoon is a real game, I've seen it at best buy
sam @ Jul 3rd 2006 3:29PM
As having worked corrections, I can say that video games are useful in prison. It gives you a measure of control over the inmates, in that it gives you something you can take away. You can use video games, TV, weight room, rec time privelages to regulate inmate behavior. If you're bad no more Madden for you. This is very effective as everyone who observes kids knows.
If you follow the right wing, bread and water only method of corrections, as is done in some maxi-max joints, the inmates quickly become out of crontrol. Why? becasue they have literally NOTHING TO LOSE by throwing feces at you and acting out. You have to give them something so you can threaten to take it away. Simple human behavior.
S
bladestar @ Jul 3rd 2006 3:44PM
Do they have XBox live in prison?
How about a nice PC and internet so I can play MMORPG games?
mmmm. who do I have to shoot? I wouldn't mind not paying rent, food, XBox live, or Internet for at least 5 years. Damn, I would come out of jail with a level 999 character.
butterman @ Jul 3rd 2006 4:35PM
Hahah, yea blade i would "kill" for MMORPGs in prison.
Chowweekly @ Jul 3rd 2006 4:38PM
The US prison system is screwed up right now. We do little to nothing to actually rehabilitate people. Like EatingPie said, the main goal is to isolate prisoners. This is doing alot more harm than good. We're running out of prison space and we have higher violent crime rates than places like Sweden and Norway that have prison systems that are kinder to prisoners.
student @ Jul 3rd 2006 7:13PM
blade, i hope you were exaggerting. At the very least, you're simplifying the prison process immensely. It's more the equivalent of sitting in your room 22 hours a day not allowed to see anyone or do anything and then given a short break to go out enjoy yourself. Whewee, yea, you're right, I'd much rather do that than get a job.
If you want, go to prison for 5 years. I'm sure you'll love exiting it to a world that's changed significantly, where you have little to no money, and no job experience or education in the past five years, making it next to impossible to earn money.
Your right, that does sound like a great deal.
bladestar @ Jul 3rd 2006 8:23PM
@student, yeah I'm just playing around. Honestly I believe it is a good idea to somehow have programs for the benefit of inmates (i.e. school, work, entertainment, etc). After all they are humans and therefore also need to have a sense of accomplishment even if that is kicking all other inmates butt in Geometry Wars. This in fact it is a sensitive subject and can be view negatively specially by the family of victims or people that view prison as a punishment facility and not a rehabilitation facility.
Copperhead @ Jul 4th 2006 11:47AM
Nice to see the bleeding hearts out in force.
We have people who can't afford to pay for basic healthcare and you people want to give convicted felons toys.
If they are acting out in the current prison system, it's the reason they're there in the first place.
After all, very few people just magically wake up in prison, do they? These people have already shown a propensity for criminal or violent behaviour, so obviously if they throw tantrums (or feces) we should reward them with video games.
No wonder this country is going to the dogs.
Conrad Quilty-Harper @ Jul 4th 2006 12:06PM
"We have people who can't afford to pay for basic healthcare and you people want to give convicted felons toys."
This wouldn't be part of a tax payer scheme - prisoners would earn the money to buy the systems and games by working in the prisons.
"If they are acting out in the current prison system, it's the reason they're there in the first place.
After all, very few people just magically wake up in prison, do they? These people have already shown a propensity for criminal or violent behaviour, so obviously if they throw tantrums (or feces) we should reward them with video games."
The whole point is that prisoners are not allowed to play games if they act badly - they're part of a rewards package that allows prison staff to placate prisoners and give them an incentive to act properly.
LaughingTarget @ Jul 4th 2006 12:43PM
I figure this would actually be a good thing. Criminals tend to be physically fit to be able to commit the bulk of the crimes they do. If we make them sit around playing video games all day, feeding them fatty foods and Mountain Dew, they'll get fat and lazy. Upon release, they'll be so out of shape they'll never be able to commit crimes again.
Copperhead @ Jul 5th 2006 4:41PM
"The whole point is that prisoners are not allowed to play games if they act badly - they're part of a rewards package that allows prison staff to placate prisoners and give them an incentive to act properly."
This is very much the same logic that turns children into the grasping little monsters who end up in jail in later life.
As a society, should we really consider bribing people to respect the social contract? No. Their reward for not acting out is a clean record come parole time and the lack of increasing prison terms due to more charges being filed. If we have to bribe people into undertaking their responsibilities under the social contract, we've failed as people and as a society.
If you had children would you expect to grant them privileges they had no right to if they did nothing but behave as members of a civil society? Or would you expect them to uphold their duty as part of a society as a matter of course, reserving reward for occasions where it has been earned. I know parents who reward their children excessively for the barest minimums of decent behaviour and not one of them will turn out as a person I would choose to associate with, as self-indulgence, petulance and self-interest seem to be the defining elements of their character.
Prison is part rehabilitative (although I disagree as to the necessity or effectiveness of incarceration as a tool to change behaviour) and part punishment. If you provide them the comforts of freedom, how will you mould their behaviour towards actions that would keep them -out- of our already expensive penal system?