Cell Phones In Prison Cells... Legally
from the chat-away dept
For the past few years, we've been reading plenty of stories about how prisoners have been smuggling mobile phones into prisons in order to keep in touch with the outside world, often continuing to run criminal efforts from the inside. However, at least one prison feels that smuggling in the devices is too much of an effort, so they'll now start giving all prisoners their ownThank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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prison phones
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Ill bet money...
www.thatpoliticalblog.com
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Re: Ill bet money...
And then you go blathering on about "liberals".
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Re: Ill bet money...
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Re: Ill bet money...
Incidentally, this issue does not fall neatly along "conservative"/"liberal" lines, just like most people don't fall into one of those two cliched pigeonholes.
"Weak on X" is also a weasel term. Punishment and rehabilitation are two sides of the same coin. In general, you want to prevent crimes happening in the first place as well as punishing when they do happen. But if you're given a binary choice between them (which, of course, never happens in the real world), most people would prefer prevention to cure.
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Re: Re: Ill bet money...
wait, so you are saying that there is more to life than us vs. them? there is more than good (conservative) and evil (liberal) in the world? that's a remarkable idea that provokes a lot of thought. please share with us more of your tree hugging hippy crap.
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Re: Ill bet money...
Just as in Iraq the more energy that is put into punishment, the more powerful the resentment will be. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that prison should be a cakewalk, rather that it should be more focused on the facilitation of the incarcerated individual to make their lives better.
Isolation has been shown to hamper the prisoners re-integration with society. People are not that complicated and I believe that all to often they are willing to "fight fire with fire". While this may be gratifying in the short term, it is more important to think of the long term ramifications of those actions.
Cell phones in prison while seeming to impart luxury might allow the prisoner to stay more connected with the outside, family, etc. which could lead to lower recidivism and assuming that the conversations are monitored, any illicit conversations could lead to a reduction in crime as law enforcement could arrest those involved on the outside.
Regardless of your views a consideration of the facts, in a real way, where your mind is not made up before you hear something, is very important. Your partisan comments also show your lack of depth which is all to common. But you can change, and so I write this to you and others who might be able to see that fighting gets us nowhere. Good luck.
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Re: Re: Ill bet money...
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If you want to punish, fine. Keep them in prison for life, but if you don't think about what happens when they get out of prison, then you will be in trouble.
Fact is, some people should never be let out and free to harm others. Others need a helping hand to get their lives straight. Determining the difference between the two is hard.
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Re:
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cell phone in jail
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Re: cell phone in jail
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Re: cell phone in jail
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ron's an idiot
That was just an idiotic, uninformed statement. My opinion of the world has dropped for having read it.
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Re: ron's an idiot
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Re: ron's an idiot
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The comments are not a surprise
So instead of name calling why don't people just look at the situation in an unbiased manner and realize that unless the prisoners are lifers eventually they will be returning to society. The tough of crime people want to throw people in jail and make it the wost experience possible and close thier eyes to what occurs after they get out. So instead of dealing with the prisoners once you now might have a revolving door because the inmates are not conditioned to return and live a productive life. Obviously there are those individuals who are beyond help and will never be a civilized participant in society but that shouldn't lead to turning a blind eye the rest of the prison population.
In any case I'm not sure about the cell phone plan but I can understand the rationale. I've never been in prison but I can imagine keeping in contact with your family might serve as a motivation and goal during the prison sentence.
My last point regarding the cliche line of we have to pay for them to live in "comfort" so screw them is a tired line that serves as a knee jerk comment that doesnt address the problem or offer solutions. If you are tired of paying for prisoners then maybe you should rethink how much money is wasted prosecuting and incarcerating people for victimless "crimes". I think I read the stat that half the prison population are in there because of drug possession.
The goverment wastes your money in so many different ways and the prison system is an industry of its own that wont go away as long as individual have a blood thirsty revenge mentality.
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I'm surprised
Sure, let the prisoners have cell phones. Let them continue their business from behind bars. And meanwhile, the police will spy on their calls, get information they need to make a bust, and help take down organised crime before it has the chance to manifest itself. Brilliant, in my opinion.
And make the prisoners may for them? Even better, they're paying for their own calls -- they're paying for the police to bring down their business. Amazing.
Although this could just be wishful thinking that the authorities are smart enough to do something like this.
Oh, and invasion of privacy? You're in jail, you don't deserve privacy (unless you were wrongfully accused, then it just sucks to be you).
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Luxury
.. and I eat Steak and shrimp for dinner.
and what.
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sigh...
most criminals in prison will be released and it is important that when their sentence is up that they be ready to enter society as a productive citizen. some prisons are recognizing this and supporting education programs in their facilities but most of them aren't. the cell phone is nothing more than a tool to help them rehabilitate.
so long as the phone calls are monitored and they are paid for by the prisoners, I don't see a problem with this.
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read the article
Frankly, this was a crap article from the start. And it is indicative of decline in Techdirt. I really hope they stop the decline.
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Of course, providing them with "duvets, posters, rugs and a DVD player" seems waaaaay beyond the pale to me. OTOH, I don't care whether they take an approach of barely humane punishment or touchy-feely rehabilitation; this is being done as an experiment at a privately-managed prison (frightening shades of cyberpunk from that one...) and their goal should be reducing the rates of recitivism however that is most effective. I'm not off the cuff conversant enough with the actual facts to know which approaches are best, but I applaud these folks for stepping up and trying something new.
If these added connections to the outside world helps parolees stay clean and not robbing me, then I think it's money well spent. If it turns out that it makes prison more comfy that the outside world, then shut it down. But nobody (posters here included) knows for sure how it'll turn out until they get metrics back. Hansen's Axiom: "You don't know jack until you benchmark it."
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I got nothing against...
But it may fail too...
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Who was that warden in Texas...
Then when the prisoners complained, he said 'It's good enough for our troops, it's good enough for you'.
Coffe, TV, cell phones, they are luxury items. You are born with freedom. If you decide to go against the law, and you get caught, you have proven that you don't care about the law, and should be put into prison, and punished, not coddled!
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It will eventually stop when it is proven than someone in law enforcement or some innocent person is attacked, kidnapped or killed due to a retaliation for something that happened in prison.
An innocent person could be a rival inmates family member that was identified on a visit with a picture download, a correctional officer or family member, judges, counselors and many other possible targets.
It is sad that people perform dangerous experiments with dangerous criminals and risk the safety of innocent people in the name of rehabilitation
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Prison is just a luxury vaction in the west
They should be placed in the 8X8 cell with a bed, sink and crapper. Only allow out of the cell to eat (really poor quality food), exercise in the fresh air and possible rehabilitation therapy. Time outside the cell should not be more than 2 hours a day.
They are there to do time and think about the crime they did. There should be real consequence for their actions or they will just recommit the crime.
I saw to hell with fair and just treatment – their victims where never treated fair and just by them!
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BlackBerrys
How can 50 cent be the man with a tracphone and no signal in the hole? I also would want some pic's of the bewitches while sitting in the hole.
Cell phones these day's you can do so much more, you could start a blog about the hole and link it to techdirt.
I Got a little idea how about a cell phone jammer? Shockingly easy wasn't it. They probably have illegal broadband internet service like the dudes in Lebanon?
They could start a riot and have way's to talk to each other. Maybe even an IED could be made in the joint with a cell phone and you can make an escape.
From what that article said (mouse over Donald duck)
So I would say giving them phones it's an attempt to block guards from selling cell phones and chargers to prisoners that's it.
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what i think
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prison
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prison
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Prison
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Re: Prison
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cell phone in new zealand prisons
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prison cell phones.
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prison cell phones
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e-mail:writeme@americanprisoner.info
americanprisoner@aol.com
Our phone numbers are exactly the same as the phone numbers issued by the big telecom's. Our service is available worldwide and it works.
Pay two months in advance and receive the third month free.
Second payment isn't due until the fourth month of service.
Select an area code of your choice or we will configure an unlimited Inmate calling number in the Inmates area code location.This will enable the Inmate to call you as a local call.
"The sweetest sound inside a prison is that of a dial tone"
Our phone numbers may be used with anyinmate or non-inmate designated land line, broadband, cell phone or
skype number worldwide. Ask about our Unlimited Inmate/Residential service, using your current number and router. Only $135.00 monthly.
Toll free, unlimited calling, 1-800 number included. Unlimited Inmate Calls basic service, $95.00 monthly.
Includes toll free 1-800 number for additional calling flexibility.
Our Unlimited Calling toll free numbers provide flexibility for the Inmate to call home, whenever he can get to a phone. Activation fee is included in monthly rate. Add a friend or family member to the account for an
additional $65.00 monthly. All calls to account holders and add on's are unlimited. Add an additional cell phone or land line of the account holder for an additional $25.00 monthly
Tell us what number[s] you want your service linked to and it will ring when your new Area Code number or Unlimited Inmate Calling toll free number is dialed. Phone number designations may be changed without additional charge.
We open an account, provide you a number, that will ring at any phone you designate. Every number is configured with unlimited calls to save the inmate, family and friends money. Great for attorney-client consultations.
We can add additional numbers to our linkage process that will ring simultaniously to any number you designate for an additional $65.00/$25.00 monthly.
Speak to your loved ones, business associates or family members at the same time.
we will configure another phone number in the area code of your choice or location of incarceration.
All numbers are configured with unlimited inmate calling.
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Unlimited Inmate Calls. $95.00 monthly
This is a service innovation provided by a private individual.
Subscriptions to this service is limited. Place your order now.
Our phone numbers are exactly the same as the phone numbers issued by
the big telecom's. Our service is available worldwide and it works.
We only use DOC approved vendors.
Pay two months in advance and receive the third month free.
Second payment isn't due until the fourth month of service.
Select an area code of your choice or we will configure an unlimited
Inmate calling number in the Inmates area code location.
This will enable the Inmate to call you as a local call.
"The sweetest sound inside a prison is that of a dial tone"
Our phone numbers may be used with any
inmate or non-inmate designated land line, broadband, cell phone or
skype number worldwide. Ask about our Unlimited Inmate/Residential
service, using your current number and router. Only $135.00 monthly.
Toll free, unlimited calling, 1-800 number included. Unlimited Inmate Calls
basic service, $95.00 monthly.
Includes toll free 1-800 number for additional calling flexibility.
Our Unlimited Calling toll free numbers provide flexibility for
the Inmate to call home, whenever he can get to a phone. Activation fee is
included in monthly rate. Add a friend or family member to the account for an
additional $65.00 monthly. All calls to account holders and add on's are unlimited.
Add an additional cell phone or land line of the account holder for an additional
$25.00 monthly
Tell us what number[s] you want your service linked to and it will ring when
your new Area Code number or Unlimited Inmate Calling toll free number
is dialed. Phone number designations may be changed without additional
charge.
We open an account, provide you a number, that will ring at any phone you
designate. Every number is configured with unlimited calls to save the inmate,
family and friends money. Great for attorney-client consultations.
We can add additional numbers to our linkage process that will ring
simultaniously to any number you designate for an additional
$65.00/$25.00 monthly.
Speak to your loved ones, business associates or family members at the same time.
Use your current DOC approved number, or we will configure another
phone number in the area code of your choice or location of incarceration.
All numbers are configured with unlimited inmate calling.
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Re: Unlimited Inmate Calls. $95.00 monthly
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phones
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Prank calls from jails
http://www.freephonenumberfinder.com/pennsylvania/area-code-484/wayne/484.398.xxxx
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