Tell me how you feel about this... Re: Fox News in Jail

[ChoralScholar]

I have been taking a Citizens Police Academy class through the local sheriff's office... Overall it's been a good experience. Last week, we had a class on the organization of the detention facilities, and tonight we toured both jails.

However, in the last two weeks, many of the officers have made it a point to mention that the only TV the inmates are allowed is Fox News. And, true to their word, when we toured both the juvenile and regular jail facilities - every TV was on Fox News. It was pointed out to us at least 4 or 5 times throughout the tours.

I'm just not sure how I feel about it. I guess it would be one thing if it 'just happened' that way, but it seems that they're making a point of feeding the inmates right-wing bias news.

Your thoughts...

[Unrepentant Fenian]

1. I consider it cruel and unusual punishment!

[dysfunctional press]

10. for society, perhaps.

inmates can be an impressionable bunch.

[givemebackmycountry]

2. I think it's cruel and unusual punishment -

These guys have it hard enough - we have to do THIS to them as well?

[dysfunctional press]

12. well...when glenn beck advocates for violence against the left....

he may be talking directly to the more psychotic short-timers.

at least that's how they're likely to interpret it.

[ChoralScholar]

13. Glenn Beck was on when we toured the Women's facility - he was largely being ignored. EOM

[WCGreen]

3. Torture?

[RZM]

4. Having to watch their lame morning show

Would certainly fit the definition of punishment.

[tabatha]

5. Is that where they get their viewer numbers from?

[ChoralScholar]

6. Maybe all 250 inmates are Neilsen voters... EOM

[lpbk2713]

7. Incarceration is not supposed to be a pleasant experience.

And what could be more unpleasant than having to watch those idiots on Faux Snooze?

[ChoralScholar]

11. I tell you what,

all the anecdotal stories about cushy jail experiences and 'prisoners living better than we do' does not hold true in these facilities.

Fox News aside,,,those guys get nothing. Their bed mats are taken from them at 6:00am, and they are made to get up and shower and change. They have nothing to do except play cards (?) and watch Fox News. If they don't take a shower by 2:00pm, they lose any privileges.

In the juvenile facility, the kids, when they were not in class, being taught by the on-site educator, were made to sit at a bench for the entire day, except for times when they were required to clean and mop their own facility (3 times a day)

They have a rec area, where they get one hour a day, but just to walk around in an enclosed space. No ball, nothing.

[Lyric]

26. Yep. And the fact that *some* prisons have better facilities

is not meant to coddle inmates or provide them with cushy amenities. It's meant to reduce violence and strife without resorting to more violence. Inmates who have things to distract their minds tend to fight less, and are easier to control and subdue--all good things when the object is to protect guards and inmates from violence. And of course, as a control technique, access to amenities is invaluable--because the entire block has an incentive to self-police troublemakers so as not to lose privileges.

Even in the best of prisons, however, the experience is no comfortable resort stay. It's just less draconian, and therefore safer for both the guards and the inmates.

[ChoralScholar]

27. They talked about incentives...

the prisoners have a small comissary program where they can buy things like gum, or candy bars, or chips, or whatever. If they mess up, even a little, they lose it.

[tsuki]

8. Wonder how the advertisers feel about that? nt

[dysfunctional press]

9. they must consider it part of the 'rehabilitation' process...

for turning out ex-cons who are TRUE american citizens. :patriot:

[ChicagoSuz219]

14. Talk about your captive audience...

I actually do have a problem with this. Why incite people to hate? It's like having them watch Jerry Springer all day.

[ChoralScholar]

15. See, that's what was whirling around in my head, I just couldn't put it into words.. EOM

[ChicagoSuz219]

21. Glad to be of service... ;-) n/t

[DesertFlower]

16. it bothers me. why not CNN?

i think they're more "fair and balanced".

[Egnever]

17. what was the justification for that being the only tv they are allowed to watch?

and where in the world is this jail?

In my youth I was jailed several times and in all of them the tv's all had channels.

Sounds to me like your local sherif is a wingnut.

[ChoralScholar]

22. Faulkner County, Arkansas

Not the most red part of the state, but we do have our WingNuts, and Sheriff Byrd just might be one.

[madamesilverspurs]

18. Interesting potential for irony, there.

If memory serves, the original meaning/intent of 'penitentiary' was a place where someone could think. Constant exposure to Fox would rather defeat that purpose, would it not? Hmmmm...

---

[Lars39]

19. They're either being paid to have Fox on 24/7 or Fox furnished the TVs

with the condition that they stay on Fox.

[Truth2Tell]

20. Criminals fed a steady diet of Beck

this is how they are breeding the next lone gunman

[timtom]

23. Certainly Fox "News" supports the criminal "justice" industry.

Implicitly, if not explicitly.

[lame54]

24. Is that where there high ratings come from?

[southernyankeebelle]

25. If you go to allot of doctors offices you will see the same. However,

I change the channel if I am there or ask others if they mind if I change it. Usually they say yes to changing the channel.