4 ms·

One of the factors that created this market is the unreasonable phone systems currently in place at correctional facilities. They are excessively overpriced and

One of the factors that created this market is the unreasonable phone systems currently in place at correctional facilities. They are excessively overpriced and that cost is largely passed on to friends/family on the outside. In the long run it's actually cheaper to buy one of these expensive contraband cell phones and add money to them as needed. Some people complain that inmates shouldn't be allowed to call anyone, but it's by maintaining these social connections to the outside world that gives them a greater chance of rehabilitation. You keep chipping away at their threads of humanity and you will create some very broken men; who will eventually share that street with you one day.

hnhg 16y ago
I agree entirely. In many cases it's reinforcing a prisoner's connection with society that reduces their chances of re-offending. A recent study in the UK showed that simply ensuring inmates in a prison had a bank account cut re-offending rates by a third! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11008453 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11008453 For me, this highlights the mix of factors leading people towards criminality. I wonder what other things we take for granted we could use to help inmates.
- eru 16y ago
  If there was a pill with similar effects, you bet that everybody would be forced to take it.
kanamekun 16y ago
Prisons do often leave prisoners more likely to commit crime than they were before they were incarcerated (there was a great article on The Atlantic last year on how ankle monitors are changing this, by keeping many non-violent prisoners from ever entering prison). However, allowing cellphone usage inside of a prison allows many convicts to run criminal networks from inside of prison walls. This makes it difficult for law enforcement to make a dent in organized crime, as incarcerating a gang's leaders doesn't prevent them from organizing further criminal activity. Non-violent criminals could arguably be given cell phones, but the potential for violent criminals to organize violent crime means that allowing violent criminals to use cell phones in prison is a dangerous proposition.
- yardie 16y ago
  It doesn't necessarily have to be cellphones. The reason they are so popular in prison is because of the outlandish fees to make a collect call, and in some cases, those phones are monitored. If you're choices are a collect call with $5 connection fee and $2/min and a $300 cellphone loaded with hours of calltime than it doesn't take a genius to see that the cellphone is going to win whether its for the mob boss or incarcerated shoplifter. A sensible middle ground would be to make collect calls affordable, or even free from a selected list, so that cost works against smuggling in cellphones. Until then, people are going to find more elaborate ways to reach outside. And they've got lots of time on their hands to do it.

hnhg 16y ago

I agree entirely. In many cases it's reinforcing a prisoner's connection with society that reduces their chances of re-offending. A recent study in the UK showed that simply ensuring inmates in a prison had a bank account cut re-offending rates by a third! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11008453 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11008453 For me, this highlights the mix of factors leading people towards criminality. I wonder what other things we take for granted we could use to help inmates.

eru 16y ago
If there was a pill with similar effects, you bet that everybody would be forced to take it.

kanamekun 16y ago

Prisons do often leave prisoners more likely to commit crime than they were before they were incarcerated (there was a great article on The Atlantic last year on how ankle monitors are changing this, by keeping many non-violent prisoners from ever entering prison). However, allowing cellphone usage inside of a prison allows many convicts to run criminal networks from inside of prison walls. This makes it difficult for law enforcement to make a dent in organized crime, as incarcerating a gang's leaders doesn't prevent them from organizing further criminal activity. Non-violent criminals could arguably be given cell phones, but the potential for violent criminals to organize violent crime means that allowing violent criminals to use cell phones in prison is a dangerous proposition.

yardie 16y ago
It doesn't necessarily have to be cellphones. The reason they are so popular in prison is because of the outlandish fees to make a collect call, and in some cases, those phones are monitored. If you're choices are a collect call with $5 connection fee and $2/min and a $300 cellphone loaded with hours of calltime than it doesn't take a genius to see that the cellphone is going to win whether its for the mob boss or incarcerated shoplifter. A sensible middle ground would be to make collect calls affordable, or even free from a selected list, so that cost works against smuggling in cellphones. Until then, people are going to find more elaborate ways to reach outside. And they've got lots of time on their hands to do it.