November 18, 2012
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A Tricky Topic....
Today after church, a small group from my Bible study class all went out to lunch together, as usual. We have such a fun time and sometimes some really interesting conversations come up. This afternoon we touched very briefly on a subject that really got me thinking.... the topic: prisoners rights.
My immediate and rather cold hearted opinion was that prisoners should not be allowed to have many rights. I actually even used a bad word during this discussion (shame on me) because I got all fired up over the whole thing. One of the things we were talking about specifically was access to the internet. I said that I don't think that people who are in prison should have any access to the internet at all. A friend of mine who was sitting across from me (and who is probably a much nicer person than I am) said that she thinks there is a big difference in what should be allowed, depending on the crime. She used Martha Stewart as an example. I stated that I feel that even Martha Stewart should not have been allowed access to the internet while she was in prison, and that if she needed or wanted to write to someone that she could have used a pen and a paper. My friend looked at me like I was mean, and then also went on to bring up the topic of people who are accused and convicted of crimes they actually did not commit. Of course that got me to thinking about what it would be like if I were in that situation-where I was in a prison for a crime I did not commit, and I wanted to have access to the internet to research or whatever, and try to help myself or to help my attorney to help me. Then also, what about those that choose to represent themselves? Don't they need to have access to books and case histories, and other reference materials?
How does that sort of thing work, in reality? DO prisoners have access to the internet, and if so, at what level? Are there restrictions as to which sites they can visit? If they are allowed to send personal emails, then does someone monitor the content before the message can be sent? I would assume so, and in many cases, I would hope so. I just finished reading a book full of case studies, and one was about a man who had been sentenced to life in prison, possibly even the death sentence, and he managed to arrange for a "hit" on the widow of the man he had been sentenced for killing, just purely out of meanness, and in an attempt to gain something small financially. If he had not had access to other prisoners, who in turn had access to other people on the outside of the prison, this wouldn't have been possible. If he were forced to sit in a small room, on his own, with no communication with other people, this wouldn't have happened. So, which is the right way to go with this?
Another friend who was at the same lunch today sat and looked rather thoughtful but didn't have much to say about it, although I could see the wheels turning. When I got to thinking about it and realized that really, my original answer probably isn't the right one, I pointed out that I did end up feeling badly about it, and that it really isn't such a black and white matter, that friend said "It's really complicated". He sure hit the nail on the head with that one, and I was left to wonder what he was thinking on a more specific level. I mean, really.... it is complicated. There are so many different ways that this could be managed, and then in turn, mismanaged.
What are YOUR opinions? What rights should prisoners have, and at what levels? How should these things be enforced and managed? It is a very interesting topic, one with many different angles and jagged little edges. I'm curious as to what you all think and I look forward to your responses!
On another note altogether...... who among you uses facial moisturizer? I have been thinking it over, and I realize that I have never taken really good care of my skin. I really don't want to turn into a leather face at the age of 40, so, ladies, help me out! Which kinds do you use? And how often?
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Comments (6)
Reading the first paragraph, I had the same thought as you did, but the more I read of your post, the more I agree this is not a black and white matter.
Nice to meet you, ad thanks for stopping by! As for prisoner rights, I suppose I would have to say that they should have privileges if the EARN them. If a prisoner works hard, behaves well, then the extras are deserved, in an odd way. Not sure if that's how it works, but... it would be interesting to find out.
As for moisturizer, I just use regular (Intensive care) on my face, and vitamin E capsules on my eyes. (budget beauty regime, lol) So, I'm not one to ask, as the lines keep coming on my face, no matter what!
I think access any media should be limited, like they block sites where I work at the hospital. We cannot access FB unless you have a phone with internet. They block it because some people spend more time on FB instead of doing their job.
Here is what they do in Ohio prisons:
http://www.examiner.com/article/for-ohio-prisoners-a-facebook-page-is-legal-while-cell-phones-email-are-not
If someone wants to kill a person on the outside they can still do it when visitors come and never need to use the web. In the old days that's how hits were arranged and carried out.
I don't use a moisturizer, just my foundation, blush, powder, etc.
What an interesting conversation you've had. I too have thought about this in the past to some degree, and I would say it really depends on the crime. I think a lot of people have the idea that prisons are like hotel rooms and that its actually a good life, but I really don't think that's the case. I think if someone has committed a small offense they should be given some rights to use the internet and communicate with family, but of course anyone caught abusing these rights, as in trying to come up with a plan to escape or do something illegal should lose all of their rights.
However if we are talking about serial killers of those sick people who do horrible things to children, they should absolutely have 0 % access to a computer, as chances are they'll only be using it to hurt more people. I'm sure there is a line somewhere that is drawn for these sort of things before deciding who should be allowed to use a computer and who shouldn't. Clearly the prisoners should be monitored and given only a little bit of time.
At the end of the day people committed a crime and have been arrested, so they should expect a loss of most of their rights that they enjoyed as free people. However with the case of people who may have been arrested for a crime they didn't commit, that's a whole other ball game. And while they should have a lawyer to be able to help them out, I can't imagine them having any more rights, because in the eyes of the prison they are guilty.
Very interesting topic ! I am sure everyone has a very different opinion on this. Take care and enjoy the rest of the week, bye for now.
Kyle
Well, I think that if they've been convicted and are in jail, they really shouldn't have any rights other than legal representation, health/dental coverage. Yup, there may be inmates who have been falsely convicted and my heart goes out to them. But I am SO SICK of prisoners rights. Jail should be a place people try to avoid at all costs. It should be miserable, awful, and extremely uncomfortable. I also think that prison officials and guards should be sent to their own jail if there is any corruption on their part- but that will never happen. It's a huge debate you've started..but personally I think their rights should be minimum. But then again, I also believe in capital punishment and wish caning was allowed!! how many enemies did I just make? ? lol
Moisturel Cream I use on my face every night and the lotion every day before I head out. We live in a dry dry climate - cold, windy and dry and my skin is pretty dang amazing for my age. I've been using the stuff for 20 years. It's cheap and available at Walmart. I get have to get it from the pharmacy up here. Anyway, my dermatologist said it's one of the few moisturizers that actually absorbs in to your skin. And I still use the vitamin E eye cream from The Body Shop around my eyes morning and night. Plus I take 2 Omega 3-6-9's ever day which really helps. I never have to put lotion on my body...just neck/face. I know what you mean about not wanting to look like leather at 40 lol.
My first thought was like yours....But after thinking it over, I think they could have access to legal sites to research their cases and to assist their attorneys. Maybe even to assist other prisoners. As for family and friends, write letters. They usually have access to a library in prison so they could have reading material. I agree that they are there as a punishment so they shouldn't have more perks than the average person.
As for moisturizer...I usually use a facial cleanser (right now it is WalMart's Top Care daily renewal) I use Olay active hydrating fluid afterwards and I use WalMart's Equate eye cream because my eyes were itchy. My mother used Oil of Olay for years which is the reason I started with that years ago.
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