# Inmates get to have MySpaces? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 22, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304 "2008-05-22T23:44:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/1 "2008-05-22T23:44:18Z")
Fuck that. My girlfriend just got an unsolicited, handwritten letter from [Mario Stanford](http://www.thepamperedprisoner.com/mstanfordca.htm), Prisoner #P67016. He is a guest of California State Prison, Corcoran. The tone of the letter and the content freaked her out. She asked me if I would check it out for her. This guy has a [MySpace account](http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=78968285)! Pampered Prisoners, Myspace? Seriously, that’s fucked up. It’s fucked up because it gives them access to continue preying on the world. And I’m sure he sends out hundreds of letters that scare the shit out of the recipients. I mean, goddamnit, he’s in prison and he probably has better internet that I do. Fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/2 "2008-05-22T23:51:15Z")
Though it felt like my intelligence was dropping just by reading that page (“So has no choise but to fight his most maturist battle ever”), it does say “Mr.Stanford doesen’t have direct access to this webpage.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/3 "2008-05-22T23:57:10Z")
The _[Pampered Prisoner](http://www.thepamperedprisoner.com/)_ website has been shut down, according to its home page. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/4 "2008-05-23T00:06:44Z")
The letter she got (at her home address) had all of information correct. Thing is, she uses a P.O. Box for all of her personal and billing contacts. I myself was unable to find her name and address as he had them together despite a pretty herculean effort. Whether he has direct access to that site or not is irrelevant. He has access to private information somehow - my guess is the internet. But really, should he have a MySpace account if he is in prison? ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/5 "2008-05-23T00:20:06Z")
I approve. Excluding prisoners from as many aspects of society as possible is not the best way to prepare them to eventually rejoin society. Can you describe the tone and content of the letter? Or, even better, can you provide the the text? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/6 "2008-05-23T00:47:00Z")
The tone was not directly threatening, more of a ‘I bet your a cool girl, I’ll be getting out in a couple of years’ kind of thing. It was creepy in a ‘I know about you’ kind of way. Defineatly not appropriate for an unsolicited letter. I don’t have the letter anymore, she tossed it. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/7 "2008-05-23T00:55:44Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] Fuck that. My girlfriend just got an unsolicited, handwritten letter from [Mario Stanford](http://www.thepamperedprisoner.com/mstanfordca.htm), Prisoner #P67016. He is a guest of California State Prison, Corcoran. The tone of the letter and the content freaked her out. She asked me if I would check it out for her. This guy has a [MySpace account](http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=78968285)! Pampered Prisoners, Myspace? Seriously, that’s fucked up. It’s fucked up because it gives them access to continue preying on the world. And I’m sure he sends out hundreds of letters that scare the shit out of the recipients. I mean, goddamnit, he’s in prison and he probably has better internet that I do. Fuck. [/QUOTE] At that myspace page,he does this weird thing I’ve noticed others doing before.He types no spaces between his sentences.Instead it’s just a period,no space.The same with commas and,presumably,other forms of punctuation as well.What is the reason for this?Does anyone know why some people do this? -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/8 "2008-05-23T01:00:46Z")
They should get their own website. _MyConfinedSpace_. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/9 "2008-05-23T01:02:55Z")
[QUOTE=VarlosZ] I approve. Excluding prisoners from as many aspects of society as possible is not the best way to prepare them to eventually rejoin society. Can you describe the tone and content of the letter? Or, even better, can you provide the the text? [/QUOTE] Myspace is not preparing them to enter society. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/10 "2008-05-23T01:04:33Z")
Hmmm…you know, a lot of these guys ain’t too bright. And the Web encourages trust & intimacy, based on a false sense of anonymity. So, more than a few will end up confessing to this & that unsolved offense. ---
**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:** [May 23, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/11 "2008-05-23T01:09:18Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Hmmm…you know, a lot of these guys ain’t too bright. And the Web encourages trust & intimacy, based on a false sense of anonymity. So, more than a few will end up confessing to this & that unsolved offense. [/QUOTE] Were all friends here. Anything you want to get off your chest? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/12 "2008-05-23T01:15:46Z")
Should prisoners get internet? It sounds like an easy question but, geez, it depends on so many factors… what’s the goal of prison? What rights should a prisoner lose while in prison? What should the quality of life be in prison? If given internet, what steps should be taken to ensure the prisoner behaves appropriately? I’m in favor of prisoners having internet and allowing them to interact with people. It’s probably healthier for them than interacting with fellow inmates. Still, the issue’s complex and I’m not holding strong to my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/13 "2008-05-23T01:26:33Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Myspace is not preparing them to enter society. [/QUOTE] Not MySpace per se, but having inmates feel connected to society, by whatever means, is preferable to instilling the sense of being totally detached. It’s the same reason I think inmates (and, naturally, ex-cons) should be allowed to vote. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/14 "2008-05-23T01:58:17Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] But really, should he have a MySpace account if he is in prison? [/QUOTE] Under what law could you prevent him from having a MySpace page? [QUOTE=Autolycus] Should prisoners get internet? [/QUOTE] I see no evidence that prisoners have internet access. Looks to me like someone set it up for them, and forwards any messages. How is that against the law, and if is not against the law, how are you going to prevent it? ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/15 "2008-05-23T03:02:31Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] The tone was not directly threatening, more of a ‘I bet your a cool girl, I’ll be getting out in a couple of years’ kind of thing. It was creepy in a ‘I know about you’ kind of way. Defineatly not appropriate for an unsolicited letter. I don’t have the letter anymore, she tossed it. [/QUOTE] Look at it this way: would your girlfriend have preferred to receive a creepy letter from someone who is able to walk the streets? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/16 "2008-05-23T03:33:42Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Under what law could you prevent him from having a MySpace page? [/quote] Are you serious? The same laws that prevent convicted felons from having a lot of liberties while they are confined. > [@](#): > > I see no evidence that prisoners have internet access. Looks to me like someone set it up for them, and forwards any messages. How do you propose he got my friends name and (that particular) address if not through the internet? He had two web pages at one point, that’s a strong case for having internet access. > [@](#): > > How is that against the law, and if is not against the law, how are you going to prevent it? I never said it was against the law. I’m insinuated it should be. My contention is that convicted felons, while serving their sentence should be stripped of certain liberties. Especially ones the would allow them to continue to prey on the public. Look, you can argue this from a devil’s advocate point of view all you want but I didn’t find any ‘positive’ web pages on this guy. He has a MySpace page with a “Scarface” background proclaiming himself to be “A True Geto Star!!!”. Sorry, I don’t see this as a way to habilitate himself. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/17 "2008-05-23T03:55:57Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] Are you serious? [/QUOTE] Yes, I am. > [@](#): > > The same laws that prevent convicted felons from having a lot of liberties while they are confined. Those laws are quite specific about what liberties are restricted. Having someone create a web page for you on MySpace does not appear to be one of them. > [@](#): > > How do you propose he got my friends name and (that particular) address if not through the internet? He had two web pages at one point, that’s a strong case for having internet access. No, it isn’t. If you have evidence that incarcerated prisoners really do have physical access to computers with internet access, please post it. There are many other, more believable ways for prisoners to appear on web pages, including getting help from a friend on the outside. > [@](#): > > I never said it was against the law. I’m insinuated it should be. My contention is that convicted felons, while serving their sentence should be stripped of certain liberties. Especially ones the would allow them to continue to prey on the public. Look, you can argue this from a devil’s advocate point of view all you want but I didn’t find any ‘positive’ web pages on this guy. He has a MySpace page with a “Scarface” background proclaiming himself to be “A True Geto Star!!!”. Sorry, I don’t see this as a way to habilitate himself. Well, you are entitled to lobby for such a law, but prisoners are entitled to communicate with people on the outside, so long as that contact itself does not break the law. Your law may not be supported by the court. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/18 "2008-05-23T04:04:14Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] If you have evidence that incarcerated prisoners really do have physical access to computers with internet access, please post it. [/QUOTE] Here, > [@](#): > > And in spite of the fact that legal services are now available on-line and **many prisoners do have internet access** … (bolding mine) From here: [http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-articles//article14058.html](http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-articles//article14058.html) ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/19 "2008-05-23T04:49:42Z")
Allowing prisoners to have a MySpace will provide material for future sociological studies. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2008, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304/20 "2008-05-23T05:21:53Z")
Somehow the “Scarface” background theme doesn’t fill me with confidence as to his innocence. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inmates-get-to-have-myspaces/450304.md?page=2)