California officials ban pornography in prisons

sacbee.com ^ | Published 3:30 a.m. PDT Sunday, September 22, 2002 | (AP)

[let freedom sing]

SACRAMENTO (AP) - State officials have banned inmates from receiving pornography after a growing number of female prison guards said they find the materials offensive.

Inmates are no longer allowed to receive pornographic magazines, along with photos, drawings and other depictions of nudity.

[lawdude]

"...and other depictions of nudity. "

Nudity is NOT porn.

[BuddhaBoy]

This story gives new priority to not dropping the soap in a prison shower.

Add Porn to the black market of items that are not supposed to be in a Prison, that will end up there anyway. Human nature cannot be legislated away.

Dont do the crime, if you cant do.......

[ValerieUSA]

You are right... but art is in the eye of the beholder. Men in prison are not art beholders, but porn beholders. If there is an exception to that generalization I don't care. No nude art in prison. Something smart has happened in Sacramento.

[boomop1]

Good, now make them break rocks.

[VOA]

Prison officials said the materials fuel a hostile working environment, where inmates
routinely make suggestive comments to the female guards and masturbate in front of them.

My only "jail experience" was to visit Lexington Correctional Institution
just south of Norman, OK as part of a sociology class I was taking (mandatory general elective).

I learned two things...I was going to stay out of jail as I learned that guys
under 175 lbs. usually ended up as someone's "punk".
I also learned that TV privileges were used as an incentive to good behaviour.

How about letting the guards simply have discretion to deny access to these materials to
inmates based on bad behaviour?

OK, maybe I'm being naive and can't relate to the criminal male mind...
but I suspect this will end up at the US Supreme Court eventually.

[let freedom sing]

Nudity is NOT porn.

I'll give you that one.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I saw this on the news last night. Why are females guarding male inmates? Why do they have a problem with this? I would much rather they *take care of business* with a Playboy, than do it staring at me through their cell window. Yuck. Does mean that female prisoners will have to take down their Antonio Banderas posters?

[hapsgroupie]

They did the right thing for the wrong reason.

[joesnuffy]

females should not be guards in male prisons

[justsomedude]

nothing, but nothing good comes from pornography. all claims to the contrary are folly.

[let freedom sing]

but I suspect this will end up at the US Supreme Court eventually.

I doubt it will leave lib CA courts.

[BulletBrasDotNet]

This stupidity is beyond belief. People have been masturbating since... who knows? I'll bet the female guards diddle themselves when they can't get the real thang. If the prisoners can't make a date with their hand, they may want to push fudge. I know this entire scenario is pathetic, but so are dumb people.

[LowOiL]

Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler and several other sexually explicit publications, said his magazines are a healthy "release mechanism" for prisoners.

Just like molesting chickens was for Larry I guess. This coming from a man stuck the faces of the Presidents two daughters on nude spread eagle ladies and called it funny. This is from a man who's own daughter says he sexually molested her. ( URL proof ---> http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3819eab51d8a.htm )

If Larry Flint is for something, you can bet I am most likely against it.

[LowOiL]

People have been masturbating since... who knows?

Where does it say they are not allowed to masterbate? Perhaps not masterbate and sling the stuff on the female guards, perhaps not do it right in front of other people. I don't remember it being allowed on the outside of prison either, do you? Lets keep the discussion real for the time being.

[Thebaddog]

"They use those pictures to (masturbate).

What do you suppose the more accurate term was that was in the original quote?

[let freedom sing]

They did the right thing for the wrong reason.

They had the right reason, but the wrong mind.

[B4Ranch]

Morality in prisons and lust in the school systems! What a way to run a state!

[Randjuke]

Heimerich dismissed this argument. "There are other ways to relieve stress - diet and exercise, cold showers, for example," he said.

Well, exercise maybe, but I doubt dieting and taking cold showers is going to do much for long term stress management. Do the prisoners even have any say in their diet for that matter?

[Lorianne]

My thoughts too. Everything over basic food, shelter, medical care and a modicum of excercise and sushine should be considered a priveledge and doled out on a good behaviour basis.

If a prisoner wants access to porn he should have to meet a set of behaviour requirements to get it. Ditto TV, magazines and books of any sort, use of excercise equipment and all other passtimes and entertainments. Prisoners are not inherently entitled to anything and everything non-prisoners have access to. That's a ridiculous premise from the get-go. Why have people in prison?

They should have access to pornography or any other "perk" on a good behaviour basis. Otherwise, nothing above the rock bottom basics of survival.