Re: [atlarge-discuss] Polling Commitee: your 50 chars texts

["Richard Henderson" <richardhenderson@ntlworld.com>]

As a former Prison Governor here in UK, there *are* legitimate concerns
about prisoners having Internet access, such as: risk of planning outside
assistance in escape attempts; opportunities for ongoing criminal activity
from inside prison (of course, this can take place in other ways anyway);
opportunities to harrass victims, witnesses etc - for example, when a
prisoner is on remand or their case is going to appeal.

Obviously in many regimes, internet access would not even be considered
because of a strong emphasis on punishment and retribution. The
counter-argument is that a policy of openness leads to opportunities for
education, is less restrictive, and more conducive to a controllable prison
population.

Far more pressing than prisoner access to the Internet, is the developing
world's access to (a) food (b) clean water and sanitation (c) basic
healthcare (d) schools and education (e) fair trade.... and, yes, (z)
internet access.

The Internet as it operates today is in great part a reflection of the
unjust distribution of wealth and exploitation of the poor that exists all
over our globe. On the other hand, the Internet does offer potential for
consciousness-raising, education, political organisation, independent news,
and a bottom-up challenge to the corporate elite.

Richard H

----- Original Message -----
From: Hugh Blair <hblair@hotfootmail.com>
To: <atlarge-discuss@lists.fitug.de>
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2003 2:40 PM
Subject: RE: [atlarge-discuss] Polling Commitee: your 50 chars texts


> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Joop Teernstra
> >
> > At 05:19 p.m. 24/05/2003, Hugh Blair wrote:
> > >Let's make sure the Internet is available for everyone.
> >
> > Mr Blair, :)
> > What do you think about the Internet being available for
> > convicts in jail?
>
> I can't think of a reason why they should not have access
> to the Internet. The institution where they are housed may
> put limits on their access; what sites, amount of time.
> But they should have access.
>
> In the way you asked the question it seems that you think
> they should not. If that's so, do you have reasons for this?
>
> Hugh
>
>
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