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For those wondering why phones are banned in the first place - It's bad for business. Data shows that regular communication with family is one of the best ways

For those wondering why phones are banned in the first place - It's bad for business. Data shows that regular communication with family is one of the best ways to lower recidivism. https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2014/apr/15/lowering-recidivism-through-family-communication/ https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2014/apr/15/lowering-re...

burnte 9y ago
Well, no, it's because jail/prison is supposed to be punishment, even though we occasionally pretend it's for rehabilitation. There are many studies like the one you link that show ways in which we could improve our prison system to reduce recidivism, violence, etc., but the people who run it aren't sympathetic to the inmates, and voters don't vote for politicians that run on helping those in prison.
- joshfraser 9y ago
  I'm sure the fact that so many of our prisons are private, for-profit entities has nothing to do with it.
- placeybordeaux 9y ago
  The purpose of prisons isn't well agreed upon. It could be for keeping the population safe from people that would do them harm. It could be to punish those who do harm because those who do bad things deserve to be punish. It could be make everyone believe they will be punished if they do something wrong and therefore deter bad behavior. It could be to control someone enough to rehabilitate them. There's probably others. Not everyone agrees on which one the US judicial system obeys.
probably_wrong 9y ago
It's a bad idea to give people who have nothing to lose the means to commit crimes. Virtual kidnappings[1] are a thing. It would also be a bit pointless tof physically isolate someone if they can continue business as usual virtually uninterrupted. [1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-warns-of-telephone-extortion-scam-virtual-kidnappings/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-warns-of-telephone-extortio...
thephyber 9y ago
Public prisons also get profit share when they contract with private companies to support the phones, which charge as much as $14/minute to prisoners or their family.

burnte 9y ago

Well, no, it's because jail/prison is supposed to be punishment, even though we occasionally pretend it's for rehabilitation. There are many studies like the one you link that show ways in which we could improve our prison system to reduce recidivism, violence, etc., but the people who run it aren't sympathetic to the inmates, and voters don't vote for politicians that run on helping those in prison.

joshfraser 9y ago
I'm sure the fact that so many of our prisons are private, for-profit entities has nothing to do with it.
placeybordeaux 9y ago
The purpose of prisons isn't well agreed upon. It could be for keeping the population safe from people that would do them harm. It could be to punish those who do harm because those who do bad things deserve to be punish. It could be make everyone believe they will be punished if they do something wrong and therefore deter bad behavior. It could be to control someone enough to rehabilitate them. There's probably others. Not everyone agrees on which one the US judicial system obeys.

probably_wrong 9y ago

It's a bad idea to give people who have nothing to lose the means to commit crimes. Virtual kidnappings[1] are a thing. It would also be a bit pointless tof physically isolate someone if they can continue business as usual virtually uninterrupted. [1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-warns-of-telephone-extortion-scam-virtual-kidnappings/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-warns-of-telephone-extortio...

thephyber 9y ago

Public prisons also get profit share when they contract with private companies to support the phones, which charge as much as $14/minute to prisoners or their family.