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ChrisHayes's Blog

by ChrisHayes from St. Louis

Last Post 22 days, 12 hours Ago


Prison Love
Jun 6, 2007 | 3:13 PM
Category: News
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June 1st was the deadline for Missouri prisoners to pull their ads from online pen pal sites.

Corrections officials told inmates back in March about the new rule and the June deadline.

This caused some confusion among viewers who complained that prisoners should not be allowed internet access.

Inmates do not have online access, but DOC Spokesman Brian Hauswirth told me that detainees are able to post internet pages with the help of family and friends on the outside.

Hauswirth said they’ve caught several cases of fraud resulting from the pen pal sites.

He told me that’s what led DOC to ban the activity.

We’ll be looking more at this issue tonight on Fox 2 News at Nine. One of the inmates, who is ignoring the State ban, is imprisoned for a high profile sexual assault that received a lot of media attention when it happened.

 

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jeanette read my blog view my photos
Jun 6, 2007 | 8:46 PM

Well if theses guys/gals are able to get 10 pen pals.Each of these pen pals feel sorry for him/her and fall in love with him/her and send him a mere $10.00 a month to his/her personal account for the canteen/personal account..Do you know what $100.00 a month can buy in prison.It is unbelievable how many officers he or she fall for these inmates.Loose their jobs over them.Now me as a person I think with a little common sense ask now what kind of life can you have with a guy/girl that is in prison some for the rest of their lives.Even the pen pals falling for them and wanting to marry them.This person will never be able to help take care of you or help support you.But you sure can take care of them (money wise) while they are in.Love works in mysterious ways I guess.I will never understand it.The sex offenders need no access to a computer online at all.
LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 3:03 AM

I could see this being a challenge. First you have people on the outside placing internet ads, not the inmates. How can we punish someone for what someone else does? How do you prove that this person had knowledge of it? I could see an angry ex or co-conspirator deciding to use this to get back at the prisoner.

IMO, as long as the prisoner did not place an internet ad, then we have no right to butt in. While I understand that they are attempting to look out for those being ripped off you have to realize that those that are being ripped off are gullible. You cannot take funds that are suppose to go to a prisoner and withhold them. There is too much risk associated with that.

I just don't see how this can be changed unless the state goes after the companies that allows the ads to be put online in the first place. Force them to close the webpage . . . not many other options open.
mincooper read my blog
Jun 7, 2007 | 8:32 AM

I find it funny that those who commit crimes get all the priveleges that we hard law abiding citizens get. MMM what is the deterent for committing a crime? BED, 3 meals a day, TV, internet service, wait are we in the free world or prison, I can't tell....
LadyCardFan read my blog view my photos
Jun 7, 2007 | 10:10 AM

min, which priviledges are you referring to?
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ChrisHayes

I'm an investigative reporter looking to expose crime and corruption. I'm interested in uncovering anything citizens should know about. You are my eyes and ears. Tell me what's going on.

Member Since: 9/13/2006


 

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