Can a prisoner refuse a tv in his cell?
I was last in prison in 2002 (when tvs were becoming popular in jails)
I was just wondering if a prisoner can actually refuse an in cell tv as prisoners are charged for the 'privilege' whether they want one or not.
Also, as most cells are 'twoed up' how would it work if one con wants a tv and the other one doesnt?
Thanks,
Baldric, as an ex con Im incined to agree with you.
The fact is, TVS were introduced in to the prison system to keep cons quiet. While cons were watching tv the lives of screws were easier. No more having to let them out for hot water, classes etc. Just lock them up with Eastenders.
If you were in a single cell you could refuse to have a TV or just not turn it on. But as you say very few are in single cells so you have to put up with it and argue over which channel to watch.Before people start about 'luxury' prison TV is only the basic channels and no remote controls allowed!
Baldric What kind of Hotel locks its guests up for 23 hours a day 2 or 3 to a room designed for 1, with just one small screen tv with the basic channels?
The punishment is the removal from normal life not the prison itself.
As I have said on here several times 75% of ALL prisoners NEVER work again such is the stigma against employing 'ex cons' This applies even to those given very short sentences of 6 months or less!
///75% of ALL prisoners NEVER work again///
and I know a few and they don't want to work, before or after, and if it all gets too much there's always the Hotel Pentonville (other establishments are available) to fall back on.
There are 3 bands of behaviour that attract different benefits. The top two are allowed a TV costing £1 a week. A limited number of freeview channels, none premium are available in addition to a prison info channel. A prisoner may decline to have a TV. As far as twoing up headphones are available.
Retrocop 'snout' is soon to be banned , smoking bans are being introduced in all jails.
A prison needs just 1 TV licence for the whole site, so per cell it is not going to be very high , a penny or two a week.
Wow really ? Pity my street didn't need one licence for its whole length. I might even agreed to one for the whole terrace. One would have thought that they'd pay commercial rates at least. Still I suppose it just comes out of one taxpayers' budget to be passed to another.