Federal Judge: Jail Conditions Appalling — Too Few Television Sets
The L.A. Times reports:
Declaring that Los Angeles County officials have been housing inmates in ways “not consistent with basic human values,” a federal judge Thursday called for speedy reforms at the cramped and crowded Men’s Central Jail.
What are the problems at Men’s Central? Well, it’s overcrowded, to be sure — and that’s a valid concern, I suppose. But among the concerns that the judge found serious enough to mention to the Sheriff’s Department was the lack of access to television sets:
Pregerson spent three hours touring the jail Wednesday and said he came away concerned about the amount of time inmates spend locked in their cells without daylight or recreation. Unlike many other jail facilities, Men’s Central Jail has no day rooms where inmates can gather to watch television or socialize.
. . . .
“One of the comments Judge Pregerson made during his tour was about the absence of televisions or the opportunity for inmates to get out of cells. We took that to heart and want to do something about it,” [Sheriff’s Cmdr. Dennis] Conte said.
I hope you do, Cmdr. Conte!
I for one am outraged. These inmates have a constitutional right to 500 channels, including Playboy. As the U.S. Supreme Court has said: “There are few activities in our society more personal or private than the passing of urine.” Wait . . . they did say that, but that’s not the quote I was looking for. I’m pretty sure that they have also said TV for criminals is in the Fourteenth Amendment somewhere. Everything else is.
I sure hope Judge Pregerson gets to the bottom of this. No televisions, no peace!