# Could you cope with house arrest? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 30, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694 "2016-01-30T21:17:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/21 "2016-01-31T13:41:43Z")
Could I cope? Sure. As others have said, it isn’t a contest if the alternative is being in prison. Assuming whatever I’d done didn’t cause my wife to leave me, I’m sure I could live pretty comfortably, as she’d probably be willing to get food for me on occasion from places that won’t deliver (our delivery options are a little sad). As for earning a living, 90% of my current job is done over a computer anyway, so if I hadn’t offended my firm, I might be able to just keep working from home without any difficulty. I’m guessing I’d be taking a pay cut, but since my entertainment expenses would go way down, that shouldn’t be difficult to compensate for. All that being said, I need to get outside once in a while, so the idea of being completely confined would drive me crazy. I do have a nice deck on the back of the house, and I’m assuming that I’d be able to at least relax on that at my whim. I’m guessing I’d do that as often as the weather allowed. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/22 "2016-01-31T14:13:19Z")
If someone could visit and bring food and sex I’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/23 "2016-01-31T14:51:34Z")
Nope. I’ve had a knee injury so spent all of Thursday at home, Friday at the office then straight home, Saturday at home. It’s now Sunday and I’m going stir crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/24 "2016-01-31T14:52:19Z")
I think I could be quite happy with the deal suggested by the OP. I live alone anyway, and am fairly unsociable. Am retired, so “how to earn a living” would be moot. I quite often go for a day or two now, without leaving the house. No interest in gardens / gardening: being forbidden the garden, would be no problem. I’d hope that the OP’s hypothetical, concerns a sentence of a finite period, rather than “for life” \*; but even if it were lifelong, I think I could cope without feeling suicidal. And, much preferable to prison – which, if I’m right, has been the opinion of all PPs who have mentioned this aspect. \*Looking back, I see that the OP has answered this: “Years”. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/25 "2016-01-31T16:53:12Z")
Can someone periodically come take my 4 year old off for an afternoon in the park? I really, really couldn’t make it trapped in the house with him: we’d be going different kinds of crazy. And I’d lose the house/start getting hungry within a year or so, as savings ran out–especially since groceries would be a lot more expensive. I could maybe do some college counseling, but it’d be hard to do it out of my house. ---
**Author:** ![DeepLiquid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deepliquid/32/14893_2.png) [@DeepLiquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepLiquid)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/26 "2016-01-31T17:25:09Z")
Nope, I’d quickly lose my mind. I’m job hunting right now and the amount of home time is already about to put me over the edge, add in not being outside at all and the idea gives me the willies. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/27 "2016-01-31T17:41:48Z")
My initial thought was, “OOH HELL YES!” but then I remembered one day of the week I have to take my daughter to two therapies and a social skills group, and I’d hate to pawn the job off on someone else just because I broke the law. I rarely leave the house as it is, and my room and board is covered through work I do for my roommates. It wouldn’t be much different, save for that Monday flurry of activity. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/28 "2016-01-31T19:37:12Z")
I thought people on house arrest were allowed to go outside as long as they stayed on their property, and were also allowed to leave for work, doctor’s appointments, food shopping, and a few other necessary things, although they have time and distance limits. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/29 "2016-01-31T20:09:48Z")
It probably varies - certainly, medical care could not be denied in the US, and if the doctor won’t come to you then you must go to the doctor. But if you live with family you may not be allowed to leave for any other reason, under the assumption the other household members could do the shopping and such. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/30 "2016-01-31T23:23:58Z")
I think I’d be perfectly happy under those circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/31 "2016-01-31T23:28:29Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Can someone periodically come take my 4 year old off for an afternoon in the park? Yes, that’s the other thing about this house arrest stuff. Sure, I can spend time with my family, but not be there for them in any way outside of the house. That would be a real bummer. It’s the straight and narrow for me! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/32 "2016-01-31T23:36:41Z")
I’m not sure. I’d like to think it would be no problem - I live alone and seem to spend all my time reading, browsing, contemplating. Recently I realized one Monday morning that I hadn’t said one word to another person (even over the phone) since the previous Friday. But I do like to spontaneously go out and catch a movie - alone often, and sometimes I have the same urge to go shopping. Just to wander through a supermarket and pick up bits and pieces to create a meal. And spending every night at home alone doing stuff is very different if on most days you’ll be in the office tomorrow. So even with what seems like good acclimatization I’m not sure how long I’d last. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/33 "2016-02-01T00:25:50Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I thought people on house arrest were allowed to go outside as long as they stayed on their property, and were also allowed to leave for work, doctor’s appointments, food shopping, and a few other necessary things, although they have time and distance limits. It depends. I have dealt with a few people who were specifically restricted to stay indoors at their residences. But most of those on 24/7 home restriction were simply required to stay on the property, indoors or out. At least they could do some yard work to pass the time. And in my experience it is necessary with some to verify their claims of medical appointments. Sure the system shows them at the hospital, but it doesn’t verify what they are doing at the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/34 "2016-02-01T01:11:52Z")
How does employment normally work in real cases of house arrest? With regular probation or parole, the person is normally allowed to leave their home and even travel out of town as long as they stay in the state. Are house arrestees expected to get work-at-home jobs? Are they expected to pay for everything with no job? Do they get welfare? ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/35 "2016-02-01T01:46:38Z")
> [@scootergirl](#): > > Yes, that’s the other thing about this house arrest stuff. Sure, I can spend time with my family, but not be there for them in any way outside of the house. That would be a real bummer. It’s the straight and narrow for me! Not at all what I meant! I mean he would drive me crazy. I love him to pieces but 48 hours is my absolute limit. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/36 "2016-02-01T02:07:49Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > How does employment normally work in real cases of house arrest? With regular probation or parole, the person is normally allowed to leave their home and even travel out of town as long as they stay in the state. Are house arrestees expected to get work-at-home jobs? Are they expected to pay for everything with no job? Do they get welfare? My understanding is that most people subject to house arrest are not ‘gainfully employed’, at least not in legal occupations. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/37 "2016-02-01T03:09:38Z")
Coping would be easy. That is basically my preferred lifestyle already. Feeding myself on the other hand would be problematic. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/38 "2016-02-01T03:26:01Z")
I’m pretty sure people under house arrest are allowed to go to and from work actually. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/39 "2016-02-01T10:23:27Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Can someone periodically come take my 4 year old off for an afternoon in the park? If you can arrange it or pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2016, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694/40 "2016-02-01T10:42:41Z")
I would have no problem with the mechanics of house arrest, not leaving the house and getting all my shopping delivered is not much of a chore. I’ve no idea how I’d earn money though, it’s hard enough finding a job when I’m prepared to travel 20 miles for minimum wage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-cope-with-house-arrest/744694.md?page=3)