Should Prisoners Have Access to the Internet?
An AC Experiment
Granting inmates access to the internet can be a good and bad thing. It may be a good thing for the inmates to have access to the internet for gaining legal advice. If a prisoner has a need for additional legal advice, why not allow them to only access a few select law websites and block everything else? Well, some prisoner advocates believe that prisoners' first amendment rights would be violated by denying the right to the internet.
It may be a good idea to grant inmates internet access for those who would like to pursue educational opportunities. In today's world, it is virtually impossible for a person to obtain a degree or write a research paper without having access to the internet. It is not likely the inmate will find all the materials needed to complete a program in the prison library, so why not let them research some academic resources on the internet?
Some activists believe prisoners should have full access to the internet and not just for legal or educational purposes. I have a major problem with letting prisoners have full reign on the internet. There are too many things that can go wrong with websites like Myspace.com becoming breeding grounds for predators. It just would not be comforting knowing a fourteen year old boy or girl could be communicating with someone behind bars and nobody ever knows it.
What about security breaches? Prison workers argue the safety of the guards and other inmates could be put at risk if full internet access was granted to inmates. There is too much information on the internet for making various weapons, such as pipe bombs, which could compromise the security and wellbeing of the facility. Still, activists say the ability for a prisoner to connect to the outside world via the internet is a right, not a privilege.
Now, I am definitely not a prison or prisoner's rights activist, but it would only seem reasonable to allow prisoners to access the internet for legal and educational purposes. I would not want them to access the web at free will. It would be a little creepy to know a convicted killer or rapist might be lurking in someone's home because of this little thing we call the internet, but some claim it is the right of all people to have internet access.
In recent years, there have been numerous laws overturned, allowing prisoners to access the internet. A law in Arizona had banned inmates from writing letters to internet service providers and having friends and family setting up online profiles to websites like Myspace.com. In 2003, the Arizona law was overturned the law which permitted prison officials to impose sanctions against inmates whose names had appeared on websites.
In November 2006, thirty death-row inmates in Texas had profiles on Myspace.com. One of the worst inmates found on Myspace.com was a Randy Halprin, who was a member of the "Texas 7". Texas 7 was a group of inmates who had escaped from prison in 2000 and went on a murderous rampage. Since finding his profile on Myspace.com, Jeff Berman - spokesman for Myspace.com - has said Halprin's profile was cancelled or deleted.
Before I can make a good assessment of this case, I would like to entertain your thoughts on this issue. When answering the questions please include your demographics: age group, location, educational background, and occupation. Is having internet access a right or a privilege? Do you feel inmates should have limited, free, or no access to the internet at all? Should social networking websites do more to prevent inmates from posting information on their sites or should it be the prison system's responsibility to play big brother?
Published by Kristina Jones
Kristina Jones hails from Fort Lewis, WA where her husband proudly serves his country. She has a degree in Criminal Justice. She also has two young daughters and enjoys writing about almost anything. View profile
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29 Comments
Post a CommentThe Mexican Mafia ,the Arian Brotherhood and a half a dozen other lethal and deadly gangs are already too much in control of prisons.They have already intimated guards and had people killed with orders from behind bars.Its a full time job to break existing gang code and detect smuggling systems that get all sorts of illegal contraband in.You would have to be crazy to let them have internet access.
No! My uncle is in prison for life with a murder conviction. He killed my best friend. I don't think he should have any privileges at all. None! Does his victim's family have the privilege of hugging their mother, daughter, sister, friend.......no. He took that right away from them......me. Why should he be able to have contact with anyone? Murder. Is their anything worse? I don't feel sorry for him. He did it.
ABSOLUTLY NOT! I was just watching a report on the Today show and NOW there is a scam that is taking advantage of grandparents! HOW LOW CAN SOMEONE GO!To call them as their grandson asking for money! The prisioner !!! was calling from Jail!! They said they are gaining access to personal infomation via FACEBOOK MY SPACE ETC... and obituaries! ALL of this should be off limits to inmates!!! DOES'NT THE PRISON SYSTEM MONITOR PHONE CALLS ETC> THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE JAIL!!!!! NOT A FRIGGIN Vacation RESORT!!! THEY ARE IN JAIL BECAUSE OF A CRIME!!! THEY SHOULDNT HAVE ANY COMFORTS OF ANYTHING!!!!!
I fall inlove with a man on internet dating,
was left alone pregnant, later he told me he is in open prison!...and asked for baby DNA test before he got deported.
In all cases, the punishment should fit the crime. Prisoners are not all equal. A repeat child molester, rapist, or murder should certainly be punished more severely than a person in prison for a non-violent crime.
67 year old Richard Goldberg's mother was 88 when she passed away in Florida a few years ago. Richard was the only family his mother had. After his mother's funeral Richard became ill and was hospitalized for three months. When he left the hospital he took charge of his mother's affairs. He closed her bank accounts and what money she had, he paid her outstanding bills.
During this time his mother had received three social security direct deposit payments. When social security asked for the overpayment back, Richard asked to set up a payment plan as he didn't have any money. He was indicted and served 90 days in jail for Social Security fraud.
Does Richard deserve the same treatment as a serial rapist? Perhaps allowing Richard to access his e-mail would be accepta
Good article but prison is a place of punishment. The only thing a prisoner should have access to is their Bible. It is not Club Med and once you are convicted by the jury of your peers, you lose your rights. What is next, a prisoner is going to sue under the 2nd admendment saying their rights are being violated because he/she does not have the right to bear arms?
I too have a family member behind bars and I'm sorry, if you want this freedom of choice, you probably shouldn't have been robbing, stealing, murdering, raping or selling drugs! It makes me soooo mad! Meanwhile, WE, the tax payers are paying for the food and water that they drink and complain about? Give me a break!
There is really no difference in someone being behind bars or someone being out in the world. The internet is filled with all kinds of creeps so trying to keep inmates from the internet is like trying to catch all of the sexual predators that havent been caught. That is completly impossible to do. If the inmates had access to the internet it would of course have to be monitored and they wouldnt be able to have access all day long. They should treat it like a form of communication between the inmates family and friends. I have noticed that they are starting the telephone service for the inmates in the state of texas and of course there are restrictions. There should be restrictions and limitations on internet usage as well. That is just my opinion.
OMG HOW STUPID ARE PEOPLE THEY REALLY GET TO ME WHY SHOULD PRISONERS NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE INTERNET ACCES BY SHUTING SOMEONE OF COMPLETLEY FROM THE WORLD CAN MAKE THEM GO METALY ILL ..PRISONERS ARE TREATED SO BADLY ...I THINK IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE CRIME I MEAN SOME PEOPLE ARE INSIDE FOR SOMETHINK THEY NEVER DONE ...
no!!!!!! if they want rights and access stay outta trouble.