Besides these bars I can still talk. Listen

Besides these bars I can still talk. Listen


Continue the debate in England on the rights of detainees, particularly on-the-one-in law to keep a blog. The Guardian online "without talking directly to one another. He does so by publishing a post, what he long ago predicted perspective might even be his last chance to speak on the network

There's something stronger than the walls of a cell. Is there anything more dangerous and more socially useful to the guards that guard the bars. Thought. To those who live there Blog inside. One can not always put a bolt. It happens that it is stories in the pages of a blog without the blackmail of the "convenient" to complain sometimes that of those outside, believed to be free. This is scary, or simply undermines the prejudices of the masses. Requires reflections, raises the exchange of perspectives. In England it is developing a debate about the rights of prisoners, especially against the opportunity that is still allowed them to keep a blog. So far it is possible, while respecting certain rules, but it is not to be so in the future. The Guardian online yesterday published the post by Ben Gunn, author of the site "prisonerben" 30 years in prison for killing his friend when he was only 14.

Italian to English more here.



Free Ben's Prison Blog From Being Silenced

"According to the most recent post at Ben’s Prison Blog, the Ministry of Justice and Prison Service of United Kingdom is trying to silence Ben Gunn’s blog, the only one being updated in Britain by serving British prisoner.

In “My Last Post?” Gunn writes that “In 2008, the justice minister, Maria Eagle, told MP Sion Simon that prisoners could blog, subject to the rules of correspondence. Yet despite my complying with the law and ministerial pronouncements, the prison service is now reverting to its old habits – attempting to squash the vocal dissenter.”

Gunn, whose situation was recently noticed by the Guardian, has served 30 years of a prison sentenced for a murder he committed at the age of 14.

John Hirst points out correctly that “The MoJ has clearly failed to take into account the human right to freedom of expression guaranteed under article 10 of the European convention, and prisoners’ rights to contact the media “on matters of legitimate public interest“.

The MoJ’s leading argument is that it “has no clear ruling” on blogs. It doesn’t need one. The rights of free expression do not require specific forms of technology. They are out of line. It is that simple".

Prison Blogger Under Fire



"Longterm British prisoner Ben Gunn started sharing thoughts and criticism of the prison system on a blog in August. It's been just one month and he's already getting shut down.

Her Majesty's Prison Service apparently told Gunn that he can't post because prisoners "may not ask, in writing or otherwise, another person to make on his behalf a communication which he would not be allowed to make direct." Therefore, since prisoners are not allowed access to the internet, he can't ask someone else to post articles on his behalf.

This is absurd. Not only is the logic tortured, but this move to stifle open communication is flat out wrong. Gunn has been critical of HM Prison Service, but he should have the right to speak his mind. The web creates possibilities for the voiceless to be heard, and we shouldn't stand by and allow this threat to speech.

Michael Santos has written here regularly from a U.S. federal prison, and we're grateful that he has been able to speak his mind from his cell. He contributes to the dialogue around prison reform, he does it peacefully and nobody should stand in the way of that. (He's taking a break from posting right now to focus on other priorities, but expects to be back soon)

Blogger Jailhouselawyer has been following this controversy closely in the U.K. and corresponding with Gunn. Pete Brook at Prison Photography wrote about the value of prison blogs:

My question “How do we feel about Prison Bloggers?” is largely rhetorical. How we feel about them makes no impingement on their lawful right to write and publish from prison.Let’s be absolutely clear here. Gunn is breaking NO LAW.

The only law that may pertain is that Gunn may receive no compensation for his writing while a ward of the prison service. But this was never the issue at stake. Gunn’s free speech was deliberately quashed by the administration of a system that stood to face criticism through his words.

A while back I wrote 'Let Our Inmates Blog' - not just advocating for prisoners to be allowed to send handwritten post to friends on the outside, but to allow access to the internet inside prison. Until correctional systems start training prisoners in modern technology, we will continue releasing people without job skills. And until prisoners are allowed to express themselves and publish online, we'll have a silenced prison population unable to play a role in reforming the system.

Let Ben Gunn blog".

Photo by timsamoff

More on Ben...

Ben's Blog: Prisoner reform and the internet From Left Outside

And there's Ben left inside.