Battleangel

An insightful look into the American criminal corrections system and what it is really about. The debate this time is over whether inmates should be allowed to play video games (via Digg).

Opinions on the issue seem to fall into two camps. Some tough-talking politicians and administrators say games are a luxury that don’t belong in jails. Others hold that games relax inmates, making jails safer, and help to pass the time.

In the anti-game camp, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt (R) banned all games in his state’s correctional facilities last year. At the time, Gov. Blunt said, “Video games are a luxury that inmates should not be allowed to enjoy… Our penitentiaries are punitive institutions where those who have committed crimes against society are sent to pay for their actions. They are not meant to be arcades.”

Well indeed they are. Punitive institutions that is. Unlike the rest of the civilized world which likes to view its penitentiaries as more rehabilitative institutions. But American bloodthirst never ends it seems. It’s interesting because most free nations usually view incarceration itself, i.e. the loss of liberty by incarceration, as the ultimate penalty. And furthermore, the prison environment should be as normal, non-stressful and creative as possible so that inmates aren’t worse off when they’re released and are thus unable to take a place in society. Nations where citizens are not free per se have nothing to gain from incarceration alone, hence the additional forced labour, physical and psychological punishment, bread and water philosophy. Ipso facto, the United States is either a rogue nation capable of the most heinous violations and sanguinary fury or the freedoms over there aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.