Thread: TX: ICE detainees play Wii video games

The Chronicle was leaked some photos from inside ICE's Stewart Detention Center in Georgia showing detainees playing Nintendo Wii video game systems. The Wiis are only available to detainees who have no criminal history and are housed in a recreation room. Detainees can sign up to use them for 30 minutes at a time.

The Stewart Center is owned by Corrections Corporation of America, which agreed to "soften" detention conditions at nine of its centers, including Stewart, as part of an agreement reached with ICE officials in May. The changes are part of an overall push by ICE to make its detention centers more humane for noncriminal detainees held on administrative, not criminal, charges.

ICE issued this statement today about the Wiis:

"Like all detention facilities, Stewart has an indoor recreation room. The contractor that operates Stewart has equipped the facility's game room with a number of activities such as games. Providing access to physical and recreational activities within a detention facility is industry standard. In fact, Bureau of Prison facilities around the country provide similar recreation for criminals serving their sentences."

A BOP spokesman could not be reached for comment late Friday.

Most of the changes agreed upon by ICE and CCA have been delayed because of negotiations with ICE's union, ICE officials said. Union officials have expressed concern about several of the changes, including plans to end lockdowns and allowing detainees to wear street cloths, saying they could jeopardize the safety of detention officers or other detainiees.

http://blogs.chron.com/immigration/arch ... gration%29

only in American as we would say in NYC

do OUR nations prisoners get to play on wii's ? if there is even one american prision in this country that doesn't get video games , then neither should these people ....

why do we treat them better than our own ?

and yes they ARE guilty of breaking the law !

Kinder Gentler Jail

How dumb is that?

Dixie

UPDATE: When I first blogged about ICE detainees having access to Wiis in Georgia's Stewart Detention Center last week, ICE management issued a statement saying the following:

"Providing access to physical and recreational activities within a detention facility is industry standard. In fact, Bureau of Prison facilities around the country provide similar recreation for criminals serving their sentences."

Honestly, I was a little surprised to see ICE make the comparison with BOP facilities, since ICE's goal is to provide a more civil, rather than punitive, environment for its noncriminal detainees. Unlike BOP inmates, those in ICE custody are largely detained for administrative, not criminal charges.

But since ICE made the claim that BOP offered similar accommodations, I checked it out. Here's what Edmond Ross, a U.S. BOP spokesman, said today about whether BOP detainees get to play with Wiis:

"I have never heard that any institution would have Wiis for the inmate population," Ross said. "I would be really surprised."

Ross said BOP inmates have access to computers for educational purposes, and access to other amenities -- such as basketball courts and checker boards -- for recreation and leisure activities.

But, Ross said, to the best of his knowledge, no one gets to play with Wiis (or X-Box or PlayStation, for that matter.) If anyone within the BOP system knows otherwise, please let us know...


http://blogs.chron.com/immigration/arch ... mmigration)