wormwood scrubs... itv

[looobylooo]

hmmm ... interesting viewing dont you think .......

[4getmenot]

watched the start but then had to turn over to the 80's thing on BBC2, but did have me thinking about them putting razor blades into toothbrushes. Ban razor blades, they dont need to shave!! let them grow beards and get them trimmed when they have their hair cut

[sara3]

my friend works in a prison, but not a Cat A prison. they make weapons out of almost anything.

[carlton23]

The best place to go to learn a trade,.... amongst other things.

[chrissa1]

Were we meant to feel sorry for them like that young man who kept self harming because he missed his little baby girl. He had 3 weeks to go for heaven's sake and shouldn't have broken the law in the first place!!!!!
If drugs etc are smuggled in during Visiting Time, why don't they put up screens and let them talk on the phone like they do in the States?

[lankeela]

Why don't they have cctv cameras in every cell and exercise area? I suppose the loonies would start bleating human rights,but to my mind they lose all their rights when they commit a crime.

[lankeela]

Bloody sure I would not rush to save someone who was trying to kill themself. Doing tax payers a favour, what a waste of oxygen some of them are.

[20SilkCut]

I felt it was a very sad programme - i'm sure there are many in there who really need to be in a more appropriate place....their mental health issues were only too obvious...

[smurfchops]

The guy who was self harming, although he had committed a crime, I did feel sorry for him. He just wanted a cuddle. And if they try to hang them selves, i agree, let them carry on. Less for us to pay for. Don't allow visitors anywhere near them, yes a glass screen. And keep them LOCKED UP -- that way they can't distribute drugs. They are in prison, although it does seem like a holiday camp. And how do they get the mobile phones up there ... ?? Doesn't bear thinking about. Yuk.

[sandyRoe]

Some drugs are smuggled in by visitors, but most be prison staff.
A large percentage of prisoners have mental health problems. It looks like hell on earth.

[supersuezy24]

The guy that kept wrecking every cell he was put into infuriated me. The cheek of him demanding his things when he was after destroying the cells!!

[supersuezy24]

I thought the smuggling phones thing was unreal!! The prison officer lady said that some smuggle in a BLACKBERRY!!! How big is that phone!!

[thetruthhurts]

wyzard66, Totally agree with you. And another thing, perhaps those people who rant on about Prisons being like holiday camps (Sun and Daily Mail readers?) will shut up? They shouldn't be like holiday camps and they are most definitely NOT like holiday camps. I was amazed to see how caring and understanding the Prison officers were, this to anyone who has been inside, is laughable. Most cons you would meet inside would not instil this humanitarian feeling in anyone. Both sides 'Screws' and 'cons' actively hate each other, make no mistake about it.
Lastly, I wonder what 'privileges' the cons who took part received? You will probably notice the same few been interviewed in part two of this documentary. As for the lunatic who repeatedly smashed his cell up, my guess is that they told him he wouldn't be punished (or rather, have the **** kicked out of him, which he deserved) there will never be a true documentary about Prison life, the government would not allow it.

[smurfchops]

Glad to hear it. That's how it should be. But we do read of prisoners having their own TV, computer, phone etc in their cell and being able to go to the gym etc. It does seem when reading the papers, that they have a better life inside than outside and in fact some do re-offend so they can get back inside. Isn't this true ?

[thetruthhurts]

Yes they can have TV IF they behave and lets get another thing clear the prison does not supply it .A phone in their cell? lol. There is a phone on each landing that takes phone cards.

[LoftyLottie]

Yes it's true, but not because they have a more cushy life. To some it is the only 'home' they have ever really known and the only 'family' they have and they can't cope outside.

There are too many people in prison that shouldn't be in there. "Care in the community" (or the total lack of it) took care of that! There is no where else for some of these offenders to go and so many of them have mental health problems.

Life is not easy on the inside and the worse thing is being deprived of freedom. Before you make assumptions you should see what it really is like inside prisons or work in one.

[thetruthhurts]

Yes life for some people IS better inside. Homeless people,Some Drug addicts. Obviously inside they get three meals and a warm place to sleep, as long as they are prepared to put up with the bullying. As for the gym, nothing wrong in giving them something to occupy themselves surely?

[thetruthhurts]

And lets not forget Prison IS the punishment. People do not go to prison TO BE punished. And that is in prison standing orders.

[smurfchops]

But aren't they in there for punishment ?

[LoftyLottie]

Some people would seem to want to go back to the dark ages of prisons. I wonder if they would feel the same if one of their loved ones was inside.