Prison

[doodab]

I stayed in a place in Prague that had housed various political prisoners including Vaclav Havel. It was a former police station iirc.

[KentPhilip]

Pah!
I'm a giver not a taker mate..


Edit: Oops that doesn't sound good either

[MarillionFan]

Lewis. And a couple in London. Had a mate who spent 7 years inside and I visited over the years. Degree educated, politics and philosophy he came to the conclusion that inside 'ignorance was bliss' and there were some super ignorant people around.

[mudskipper]

UK prisons provide TV's, books, newspapers, gyms, and decent basic food to prisoners. They are hardly what I would see as a punishment, and indeed should HMRC come knocking I would rather send my money offshore and do a spell inside, than let them have my loot..

I think you'll find it depends a) on the prison and b) how long you're in for.

If you're in a proper lockup prison for a few months, there will be no education/work etc. and you'll likely spend 23 hours a day in your (shared) cell. If you're doing life for murder, then you'll probably get quite comfy.

[AtW]

Pah!
I'm a giver not a taker mate..


Edit: Oops that doesn't sound good either

The lord giveth and the lord taketh away

HTH

[SimonMac]

UK prisons provide TV's, books, newspapers, gyms, and decent basic food to prisoners. They are hardly what I would see as a punishment, and indeed should HMRC come knocking I would rather send my money offshore and do a spell inside, than let them have my loot..

Most of these privileges need to be earned, and can be taken away for a variety of minor offences, people often forget the prison is meant to rehabilitate someone, not just punish them

[AtW]

people often forget the prison is meant to rehabilitate someone, not just punish them

Prison is certainly there to punish people and keep them away from the rest of society.

[KentPhilip]

Most of these privileges need to be earned, and can be taken away for a variety of minor offences, people often forget the prison is meant to rehabilitate someone, not just punish them

There are three "regimes" that prisoners are put on: "Basic", "normal", and "enhanced". By default they are on normal, and this gives them access to all the things I mentioned.

If they repeatedly break prison rules they'll be put down to Basic, and this means no TV, books or association with other prisoners. But it only lasts for a few days before they return to normal.
If they are good for an extended period of time they can be put up to "enhanced" which means they get twice as many visits (one every week, rather than two weeks) and are allowed to purchase a playstation.

By the way gay sex is rare in prisons, contrary to myth. And prison officers do effectively prevent gay rape or assaults.

[KentPhilip]

Prison is certainly there to punish people...

Nope.
Read through the prison service's own description of what it does, and nowhere does it mention punishment:

About Her Majesty's Prison Service

Her Majesty's Prison Service serves the public by keeping in custody those committed by the courts. Our duty is to look after them with humanity and help them lead law-abiding and useful lives in custody and after release.

[AtW]

Read through the prison service's own description of what it does, and nowhere does it mention punishment:

About Her Majesty's Prison Service

"Objectives - To provide the very best prison services so that we are the provider of choice"



No wonder criminals in Britain don't give a tulip.

The primary objective of prison should be that whoever got there and gets out alive would be highly UNLIKELY to reoffend.