I don't see anything wrong in principle with prisoners being able to access the internet, including having a Facebook account. Unfortunately, headlines such as Godfather Colin Gunn used Facebook to run empire from jail
and Ben Kinsella family's fury after knife killer's 'down but not out' Facebook taunt do not help matters.
There will always be some who abuse the system. However, it would appear as though once again we are seeing a knee-jerk reaction from the MoJ. "Earlier this month, relatives of victims of violent crime called for the introduction of electronic anti-social behaviour orders, or ''E-Asbos'' to stop convicted killers bragging online". Electronic-ASBOS whatever next!
For years prisoners have had to put up with hearing and reading attacks upon them in the media without the opportunity to respond. If a prisoner goes too far, then this can be dealt with appropriately. However, just because a prisoner speaks out is not ground to silence his voice. Even if his doing so enrages victims families. That the internet has gone into prisons is just progress.
Can't understand what the difference is between sounding off on Facebook and sounding off in a letter or saying something on a visit which is later shouted in the pub or the street.
ReplyDeleteThis is kneejerk stuff and it distracts from the important issue of people in prison keeping in touch with their families. Obviously, a degree of supervision would have prevented Mr Kinsella's bravado which, in any case, will presumably be counter-productive in any parole application -- so he's an idiot (and the prison is as stupid as only a prison can be). As for Mr Braithwaite, I'd have thought that the conditions of a YOI, together with the length of his sentence, are enough to make his posturing look and even feel heroic -- and also obscure the contemptible fact that the murder he committed was anything but.