Your thoughts on prison please.

I think they should be allowed the freedom of speech. They will either hang themselves or offer some sort of lame apology.

I've never been in prison. My cousin and my husband's cousin both got out within the last year.

What if they use their blog to recount what they did, and they use real names? So let's say someone raped you, and now he's blogging about it, and anyone who googles you will find it?

(Devil's advocate)

LOL, I forgot, when making this poll, that none of the immigrants could have been in prison, and most of the USCs probably couldn't either, right? I mean, IMBRA and everything? Or do they just have to disclose... I forgot...

No, they shouldn't be allowed to blog. If they want, they can save up all their writing and do what they wish with it after they are released.

Slightly off topic - my summer job when I was in college (these were the pre-internet years) was delivering the mail - one of the ladies on my route corresponded with men in prison and used to eagerly await the mail. Now if you saw this woman, you might understand why she was trolling prisons for boyfriends (not to be cruel), but I almost couldn't bear it if I turned up at her house bearing only bills and junk mail.

Anyways - my sister went to prison for her role in a credit card scam. The father of her child did time at Jackson prison for drugs. He has since turned his life around, she has not.

Several people from my high school have done time that I know of, and I used to work with someone who had been in jail for bank robbery - ironically,one of the gentlest and most generous people I have ever known.

It should be definitely allowed as part of the rehabilitation process. As long as there are no obvious sensitivity issues, of course.

agreed!

wow@ 6 yes to being in prison

yes
no
yes - I've had 2 job interviews in a corrections facility I voted no, btw

www.minutesbeforesix.com

The blog of a Texas man who hired a friend to kill his whole family, and got caught after he fled to Mexico. It's really riveting, actually. You forget for a minute that he isn't...like us.

When you ask "have you been to prison" are you wondering if we've been inside of a real one as part of a group tour or as a resident? Because the two aren't anything alike. I've toured the prisons in Huntsville, TX (where they execute all criminals in the state), but I am very happy to say I have never stayed as an "esteemed guest" of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

I went to prison - to visit sis!

I also interviewed the first female warden of a male prison for an article in my local suburban detroit paper - when I was a budding young journalist

I think prisoners should have their rights very restricted.

i worked in 3 priosn systems..and no they should not be allowed to blog....as allot of scams are still used there

Not true - just need a waiver if you have.

I also agree that prisoners should have their rights restricted.

A HS friend of mine spent time in a jail (so I guess not prison) because she was a heroin addict and would steal anything to pay for her addiction. She'd get caught when she showed up at the hospital unable to breathe (because of the drug).
At her last rehab she got pregnant (she was clean at the time) and now has a beautiful son. That boy saved her life!!! I'm proud of her for being sober for (I think) 5 years next month.

I also have a long time family friend in prison...well technically jail....for stealing tons of stuff over the years from stores because of wanting money for drugs(cocaine and meth) and never having a job. Really sad. We are very close to her parents and sister. I am amazed though at how many times she got away with it, she was at court several times before they finally sent her to jail. It'd be nice if it was a wake up call for her, but time will tell. She is 2 years younger than me.

i used to work in the kitchen of a maximum security prison..

i think their rights should be restricted more then they are..

like in the kitchen we had to make specially prepared meals for certain inmates.. I can understand if someone is allergic to something or whatever but I don't think they should cater to certain inmate's religious restrictions and what not..

no on all counts.

I agree it isn't a country club. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

I don't think prisoners should be allowed to blog. I have never been to prison. I don't know anyone personally who has.

Since the prisons in the USA are like country clubs,yes they should be able to write home,but that's it. No fooling around on MySpace Oh yes,I know plenty of people in prison.No,I have never been behind the bars of a prison,thank GOD.