Prisoners playing Video games

[crissindahouse]

Kantor said:

Khuutra said:

Kantor said:
I think they should have the freedom to purchase them with their own money, but no, taxpayers should not be paying for convicted criminals to have an unnecessary (though enjoyable) luxury like that, which many people can't even afford themselves.

Where do you draw the line between recreational entertainment (which is generally held to be necessary for humane conditions in every prison in the first world) and luxury? What separates Super Mario from Harry Potter?

Harry Potter can be screened in one hall for the enjoyment of hundreds of people for the price of a projector (likely already there) and maybe $5 extra.

A video game entertains, at most, four people at a time, and requires an expensive console and a game that can cost as much as $60.

you can't just show a movie to as many people as you want, at least in germany you have to pay for licensing. and a game can be played much longer as a movie, so if the prisoner saw a movie there is nothing more for him but he can play the game for weeks. if you give them a madden or nba game they can play hundreds of hours with each other.