Convicted for masturbating in jail cell

[indra]

^
Actually he was sentenced to 60 days for the five knuckle shuffle (could have gotten as much as one year). The 10 sentence was for armed robbery.

[bonocrazy88]

ooh whoops... I see.

[Angela Harlem]

Yeah, and we all know what decent men make up the average prison population. It couldn't at all have been provocation. We forget that this is a guy on an armed robbery charge. Is it more likely that he was playing up to the CCTV in his cell, given the stark lack of activities, in a bid to rile and annoy the shit out of those are supposed to be (literally) watching him?

But yeah, we only get one side of this story; the poor hapless inmate who is denied taking care of his personal needs. That's a nicer media story than yet another inmate who finally had the courts kick his arse for his custodial conduct. He'd not likely be one of those prisoners who shit on his lunch tray, or piss on another inmate while they get beaten, etc.


... Not that we can tell any of this from this story - any more or less than we can tell the guard was an uptight conservative in the wrong profession. I just know who I'd give benefit of doubt to. Judgemental as everyone else, yes, but with at least good reason.

[indra]

Originally posted by Angela Harlem
Yeah, and we all know what decent men make up the average prison population. It couldn't at all have been provocation. We forget that this is a guy on an armed robbery charge. Is it more likely that he was playing up to the CCTV in his cell, given the stark lack of activities, in a bid to rile and annoy the shit out of those are supposed to be (literally) watching him?

But yeah, we only get one side of this story; the poor hapless inmate who is denied taking care of his personal needs. That's a nicer media story than yet another inmate who finally had the courts kick his arse for his custodial conduct. He'd not likely be one of those prisoners who shit on his lunch tray, or piss on another inmate while they get beaten, etc.


... Not that we can tell any of this from this story - any more or less than we can tell the guard was an uptight conservative in the wrong profession. I just know who I'd give benefit of doubt to. Judgemental as everyone else, yes, but with at least good reason.

You have to be kidding.

No one is saying he's a fine young man -- we are just saying that to expect men in jail not to masturbate is absolutely stupid and to prosecute them is even more so.

I do think the bit about this particular guard bringing similar charges against six other inmates is pretty telling about her prudish tendencies. My guess is prude and power tripper.

[Angela Harlem]

My guess is more that these inmates, possibly as a group mentality type thing, like to stir her because she reacts. The article paints this as him quietly minding his own business. It might very well be; but it could easily not be. Especially given the types of people these inmates are. So no, I'm not kidding.

[Angela Harlem]

http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/181902.html

Here's more, anyway.

The sole witness in the case, BSO Deputy Coryus Veal, testified that Alexander did not try to hide what he was doing as most prisoners do. Veal saw him perform the act while she was working in a glass-enclosed master control room, 100 feetfrom Alexander's cell. There was no video tape or other witnesses.

I find this part the most unbelievable. No tape, no witnesses, nothing, but her word? That's a real worry.

While most prisons deal with such an offense internally, Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne -- and Miami-Dade Corrections officials -- are hoping to curb the practice among inmates by prosecuting them.

Janelle Hall, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade Corrections, said that while no charges have been brought against inmates, the department is working with State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle's office to discuss prosecution of such ''egregious'' cases in the jail.

''It has been a hot topic so to speak in our department,'' Hall said. ``In those cases that are egregious, where there is some sort of intent to deliberately expose themselves, those cases will be reviewed further in the courts.''

A spokesman for Broward State Attorney Michael Satz said prosecution is warranted when an inmate exposes himself in plain view of the detention staff or others.

''Female detention deputies are human beings, too. Why should they have to view such vulgar and indecent behavior in their place of work?'' said Satz spokesman Ron Ishoy.

So there's a concerted effort to curb this - not outlaw it. Fair enough? While the social structure of a gaol is different to outside, there needs to be a compromise met. It's not permissible outside and shouldn't be inside, either. However, there needs to be some kind of agreement made so that personal liberties are not infringed given the huge limitations on privacy any inmate faces. What a novel concept for corrections, huh? lol.

If it is up to the deputy's discretion as well, then all she'd have likely done is made the complaint and the buck got passed along. As for her suitability in this job if it bothers her so much, then it's unlikely she'll stay long - though it did state she doesn't mind the act itself, just as long as it's kept to it's right time and place. Also, it seems mainly like it should have remained a corrections matter, not for the courts. But that can be debated for hours, on where it stops being one and becomes the other.

[bonocrazy88]

The sad thing is, not defending inmates or anything, but my father works in a maximum security federal prison and there are far more people who have committed "lesser" crimes than you would think. Personally, I think people should get more time for raping than for using drugs. I know the correlation between gangs and drugs, but I do not understandhow you could put away a man for smoking dope and then let a man go who had sexually assaulted someone.

I mean of course they didn't have to provoke the guard. I mean things can be done to conceal or makem ore private the actions, but there are internal politics involved with prisons. Sometimes it's simpy one person's word against another's. Often, criminals are harrassed and nothing is done because they are seen as not having any rights. It's a question of morals whether you think prisoners should be given the same 'rights' as non-prisoners, but things go on all the time that deny prisoners their rights. Only rarely does it get publicized. Whether or not that is a good thing is a personal opinion.

[fly so high!]

Originally posted by indra
This seems excessive to me. The guy has a 10 year sentence -- you mean he's never supposed to jack off? Even if he only serves half his sentence that's five years. He didn't hurt anyone and he was alone in his cell. To me if the guard can't hack seeing that (and let's face it I'm sure she didn't need to watch the whole episode), she should be in another profession. Don't most jails have the commode right in the cell too? Isn't watching someone take a shit at least as disgusting? Sounds like a power trip to me.

So what do you think? Is this something that really should be prosecuted?




link

It really suprises me that you see nothing wrong with this.......no-one has the right to expose and masturbate in front of you, the guard asked him to stop it , he kept on going, prolly as a form of intimidation, if he is that desperate to "choke the chicken" he could wait until lights out......I say sucked in to him.

[fly so high!]

Originally posted by Hinder
Are you kidding me? I mean, come on, now. I understand it's jail, and it's supposed to be punishment, but how is punishing him for masturbation really solving anything? Really? It's not a crime, man - the crime is this silly woman standing there watching him and whining that he's doing it. Walk away, you idiot, walk away.

Maybe she can't....maybe he has to be watched, JC i wish i was the guard i would have said "Let me get the tweezers for you Honey"

[CTU2fan]

Next time he has a turtle peeking I hope he flashes her that too...then they can bring charges against him for taking a dump.

Ridiculous.

Real, violent crimes go on inside prisons. Funny nothing's done about that.

[fly so high!]

Originally posted by CTU2fan

Real, violent crimes go on inside prisons. Funny nothing's done about that.

Yeah funny that! Let's think for a second shall we......I guess the reason there would be real,violent crimes going on in jail would be because there are real,violent people in them.....go figure!

Oh and lets see....how many guards are there compared to inmates, in the states it's around 60 inmates to 1 correctional officer....in Oz it's a little less than that......I will get my friend to confirm...... she is a correctional officer at Silverwater. What could you do about violent crimes within the prisons, you can only be in one place at a time!

This knobjockey was warned and he kept going. Good on the guard for showing she is in control not him!

Also it's weird how no one has mentioned if it was reversed.....a female inmate masterbating in front of a male guard...Now how would that go down...huh!.....would you fob that off and say it's only natural.....the inmate can do whatever she likes who cares who's looking....there would be an absolute outcry by groups all over the joint saying this should not be allowed to happen in the first place.

They have to draw the line somewhere. These dickheads are in prison not a resort where they get pampered and let off easy!

[CTU2fan]

^ I'd just rather see time better spent, instead of prosecuting this guy, go after the prisoner who assaults another prisoner, or a CO. This is like a cop ticketing a jaywalker while "real" crimes are going on across town.

Oh and I doubt many male CO's would complain if a female masturbated in front of them...I suppose you never know though.

[bonocrazy88]

Originally posted by fly so high!



Also it's weird how no one has mentioned if it was reversed.....a female inmate masterbating in front of a male guard...Now how would that go down...huh!.....would you fob that off and say it's only natural.....the inmate can do whatever she likes who cares who's looking....there would be an absolute outcry by groups all over the joint saying this should not be allowed to happen in the first place.

Wait, why wouldn't it be allowed? I mean in the eyes of others?

[maycocksean]

Eh. . .I tend to side with Angela and fly so high on this one.

I just sense we're not getting all of the story here. If the inmates are doing this sort of thing, in a public sense, to goad the guards or whatnot, I don't think that's appropriate. I'm not getting the sense, this a guy turned to the wall doing his thing "privately." It's more of a "hey check this out" type of thing. I think the standard that applies in the outside world should imply inside as well. Private masturbation is fine, exposing oneself to others in a deliberate attempt to scandalize them or whatever is not.

[Hinder]

Originally posted by fly so high!


Maybe she can't....maybe he has to be watched, JC i wish i was the guard i would have said "Let me get the tweezers for you Honey"

She doesn't have to sit there and stare at him fondling himself, either.

You shouldn't get juvenile when someone starts witht he juvenile behavior.