Satellite TV coming to MD prisons

Posted by Jeff Quinton on July 31, 2008

WBAL.com

Officials say inmates in three prisons near Hagerstown will have access to satellite television.

Jon Galley is assistant commissioner of the Division of Correction’s Western Region. He says officials hope to have the system installed by the end of November.

He says the service will be paid for with money raised through commissary sales and telephone in the prison. It will be available to all inmates who have televisions in their cells.

Galley says inmates prefer to stay in their cells when there is a variety of television programming available. He says this reduces the likelihood of gang activity and violence.

Corrections spokesman Mark Vernarelli says the main issue is improved security. With inmates choosing to stay in their cells, officers will have fewer inmates to watch.

18 Comments »

  1. Pingback by Michelle Malkin » Maryland’s gang-fighting strategy: Satellite TV!

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  2. Comment by Angry

    How about using the money raised through commissary sales and telephones in the prison to help offset the cost of housing these criminals, instead of law-abiding taxpayers having to foot the bill? WHile you’re at it, make them work for their food and shelter - they’re in prison, not a friggin holiday camp!

  3. Comment by ianna dayl

    If Mr. Galley had half a brain he would twice as smart. What in the world is going on in this country? It appears as though crime does pay!

  4. Comment by chris

    Why not give them drugs, prostitutes, alcohol, HBO, extra comfy beds, etc.? Those things would keep the thugs quietly ensconced in their cells too. I thought going to prison was supposed to be punishment for committing crimes.

  5. Comment by gus

    Here’s an idea!! If the commisary is turning a profit, how about the money goes to pay for the TAXPAYERS satellite tv.

  6. Comment by Tom

    The state of Maryland has become the East Coast San Francisco. Why we even came up with Nancy Pelosi’s wonderful family.

  7. Comment by Mark Bellm

    No wonder going to jail is NOT feared by criminals and gang goofs. The idiots running this place are pathetic!

  8. Comment by Jim M

    Or how about some funds going to victom rights funds or victom restitution?

  9. Comment by Jack

    Anyone ever heard of hard labor? When prisoners are tired from long, hard days they are also less likely to fight.

    The gang activity is a result of allowing them to hang out and play basketball, work out and relax in the yard.

    What is wrong with these administrators. Put these inmates on a chain gang and make them dig holes or break rocks. If they attempt to flee or fight, shoot them with a tranquilizer gun.

  10. Comment by Rich

    OR, dedicate some of the money raised in the commissary to pay for spelling lessons for Jim M…

  11. Comment by Sparky

    3 hots, a cot, lots of tv stations…life is good in prison if you happen to be in Mayrland. These prison administrators should be fired today. It isn’t just Maryland, this crap happens all over the country. The ACLU has done their job to make prison life comfortable and enjoyable. It’s a damn joke, and the joke is on the taxpayer.

  12. Comment by Reason

    Tranquilizers? Hell just shoot them and be done with it.

    Bring back hard labor, make them bust their butts all day long and they won’t need exercise equipment and such. Not to mention they’ll be too tired to act up at the end of the day.

    I pay enough taxes without having to support criminals.

  13. Comment by Bill Smith

    As a firefighter in a large southeastern city for over thirty years I’ve noticed a trend among street gangs and other groups who participate in rioting. I have yet to see a riot continue past saturday mornings when the television cartoon shows are on. I have no conclusions, just observations.

  14. Comment by Mike Joyce

    Maybe the taxpayers of MD need to contact Sheriff Joe on how to house prisoners.
    http://www.mcso.org/
    The TRUTH….
    http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/arpaio.asp

  15. Comment by anon

    Hey, if y’all want to lobby your congressloser to be more punitive on violent criminals (hard labor, etc) please do. Also, feel free to run for office and have all of your skeletons up for review. If you run on a platform of hard labor for murderes and rapists, I will vote for you.
    Otherwise, stfu about sat tv for them. If we could give them a chemical that would make them sit and stare for 16 hours a day it would be even better, but this is better than having them lift weights, sharpen toothbrushes, and keep their gang affiliation up to date.

  16. Comment by Jaded

    Well when Maryland keeps electing LIBERALS to office you will keep getting wussified LIBERAL policies….try electing some law and order conservatives and you just might stop the slow slide into the SFO of the east…..hell you are beating out NY for the most liberal policies of any state….keep doing what your doing and you will keep getting what your getting.

  17. Comment by tom scott

    Hey Rich, I don’t think Jim M has a spelling problem. Looks like a typo to me. I “o” is right next to the “i.” You’r calling him ignorant when perhaps he was merely careless or in a hurry.

  18. Comment by OM

    taxpayers taxpayers blah blah blah. Why is it that the same people who complain about their taxes paying for TVs in prisons care so little about their money wasted in Iraq?

    Now, any sort of entertainment like that in prison is brought in because research shows TVs (and more channels on TVs) means a more relaxed prison with more security for the guards and for the people the state holds in its custody (which means, the state is responsible for its safety).

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