Prison TVs

" It's fun. Remember when bill weld was running for governor. -- Massachusetts back in nineteen remaining. And he said that when he was elected governor of Massachusetts he was going to reintroduce inmates in the state. Prisons. To the joys of Boston Barack that's an exact quote the joys of Boston rock. Well times have changed a lot in nineteen years here in the commonwealth. And he probably saw a headline in The Herald today big screens in the big house. Runs scored new TVs for super ball how about you. Are you going to be watching. The Super Bowl. On a brand new high definition flat screen TV. All the inmates are. Isn't that great. The base states hard -- killers rapists and thieves won't get to watch the Sunday Super Bowl on 117. Brand new high definition flat screen TVs. Purchase would be okay of state prison honchos Farrell has learned. The cash strapped in overcrowded prison system spent a mind boggling 76958. Dollars for the swanky sets this month even as Governor Deval Patrick moves to lay off state workers and slash walk away. In the face of the worst financial meltdown and a generation. Paid for with prisoner quote -- quote -- funds the state of the art TVs are being installed in the common areas of all DOC prisons this month. In anticipation of the national digital TV transition. Sid DOC spokeswoman. Diane with the new guy go Lotus the sheriff of Worcester County the high sheriff -- column was baffled. By the lavish spending. It sends the wrong message when they're asking sheriff's offices throughout the state to cut at least a million out of our budget said Lotus. Who recently were moved to TV's from the Worcester County house of correction. I would argue there are other things you can spend the money on that are more conducive to rehabilitation. More conducive the the so all. The new TV's outraged even inmate advocates. Are they thinking asked Leslie walker director of Massachusetts correctional legal services noting that many inmates already have TVs in their cells. I hope they're flat screens. The DOC the department of correction convened a committee in December 2007. To study the transition from analog to digital TV with that said that committee which included prison officials decided to purchase new TVs in lieu of digital converter boxes with and said. The DOC source. Said converter boxes which run from forty to eighty dollars apiece were made available to inmates for -- in sell televisions. -- that's nice they gave them converter boxes. The DOC purchased two types of flat screens of 32 inch LG brand paused plasma and at 26 and sharp Elsie de. While the price of each -- was unclear the total cost put the average at 649. Dollars. And again just in time. For the Super Bowl on Sunday night. Kid -- money is raised by eight that's what they're paying for weather stripping him for what canteen money. -- kid teen money is raised by Chris their purchases of items such as toiletries and food the proceeds of which go into a fund the benefit inmates. At any given time the account can contain up to 800000 dollars -- said. Purchases of more than 1000 -- require approval by -- popped the OC officials. Said Steve kept away president of the mass correctional ought correctional officers federated union. I think you can find a better use for 77000. Dollars and to go out and buy TVs for guys were used to stealing them. -- could well put Steve well point 18774694322. Do you think -- should have these high definition flat screen TVs. I'm not going to be I'm going to be watching a mighty my old style. Color TV in the living room. -- bad TV it's not as good as this one here in the studio. All the producers have been laid off but we bought a new TV sets. Makes me feel good right there's a new one -- in the -- in the control room for CMD to watch the Mike to it all straight home. Yeah -- night in the bad girls. Which I never watch showing your bedroom in my bed ridden yet Kathie watches it at night. Eventually falls asleep and I come up at night I never I never watch it. I watched the one downside what I do watch amusing watching. Games or or black and white movies on turner classics work usually a new show that's about it."

" But you always want I gotta tell you know I'm I don't know about your cable company down now -- on this."

" I doubt what -- gifts at Christmas time was a flat screen is this month from my bedroom. And there's a whole bunch of channels I didn't know that I could get that are HDTV didn't costing more money out there it's like the universal movie channel there's a bunch of movie channels that I didn't know about another puzzling I heard of the universal movie channel your I know the fox movie channel I have that on my direct I have that I have fox -- universe so. There's an MGM there's a whole bunch of studios that are running year old."

" These aren't GM meaning about MGM was on turner classics some Wal-Mart. 187746943221. Should should inmate has a prisoners can get these channel --"

" 1877. Of these these guys have had a head for the relevant for sold them along you know in it it nearly -- get these -- the Republican governors conservative governors. They get in their for a little while and you know they try to crack down and then the new get. You don't even if they're Republicans there're their people what that come out of -- system. Like salute -- swift. And and pretty soon the inmates are literally as they beat the old joke goes running the asylum there running the present and this is the case I mean this is ridiculous. How is it. But some guys that hit you over the head. Is going to be watch hope watching what the super ball the Steelers in the cardinals got a better TV said the most of his wrecked ups. 18774694322. Gail your -- with how we cargo Abigail."

" Ladies and leading our land Gilbert except. Sit -- Obviously be from Texas. They shouldn't be Evans said he said --"

" Period end of our art is Hewitt today in TV."

" They can't beyond this girl."

" And right. Is -- we don't have a death row."

" Well I know."

" No other things that we can thank felons Finneran for along with automatic pay raises for legislatures no tax cut that we voted for ourselves and just the general rampant corruption there's exemplified by himself at the state house."

" Why I agree I Geary bella how weak I want to thank Carole little at least -- I didn't because. My actual reason for Cali -- you remind you that I can't do our very first bailout -- you weren't trying to forward the mail."

" I was I was I thought IA I think you know what I've made the mistake Gail and I never thought I'd make this mistake again of thinking something was on the level. I -- make that mistake again -- Thanks for the call 18774694322. -- Mir next with how we cargo ahead gem."

" It's how we do -- some other person inquired what people were they using satellites is less cheers from the local antenna -- you know affected by the analogue out."

" You know that's right isn't it Jim. But that's a good excuse to give the newspaper when they found out about the right. We know what they what are they using are they I'll bet -- I'll -- using cable or satellite."

" And -- is that a local signal that they get is lit up like note that not going at Montclair expense."

" Though they have convert they have converter but they gave the converter boxes to the inmates themselves according to a DOC source. And -- the inmates who got free converter that would that had TVs. Got three boxes for their cells isn't that nice. That they don't have cable and because you don't need converter box if you have cable. Yeah well what he's saying is though we don't know what's going on here in the -- should it. These jury in the it in sort of the central gathering areas where my guess is an -- barriers. The common areas. -- I eight I know gem. Our remember writing a story a number of years ago about how they were putting in case -- putting cable. In the presence this was -- this goes way back they put in cable. In the in the prisons right before the start of baseball season. Because they said some of the guys in the prison where Yankee fans. It's over more Red Sox fans in this way they -- have like one world for world for the Yankee games in one room for the Al local the olde -- team. You know. -- but they I'll bet they have cable --"

" They should call 1877469432218774694322. Charlotte you're next with how we cargo ahead Charlotte."

" Hey how we actually have a couple things to say one of Bridget I actually. And that they I don't want -- my dad does yes I'm so I get feel -- trio was in view all the time whatever here on. He's a cool thing will come a whole thing with the TV it's absolutely ridiculous. Personally I actually works for cable companies yeah for Comcast yeah. All along."

" I get numerous phone calls from elderly people who can't afford. Any money for their cable at all they're disconnecting -- can't afford to eat food or anything."

" You saw on the story in I think it was in Michigan the 983 year old World War II vet died he'd he'd he froze to death in his own. How's that you don't for many years because he --"

" He can -- are exactly yes."

" Yep I need an acting like I want you people like there's all they want -- Actually working the disconnect department they can't afford anything or downgrading the basic cable third disconnecting altogether -- can't force anything. And with health care why did that for myself personally I'm in the military. Her eight year I was working in any I was over the table and I -- have health insurance. But yet if I would brand someone over my car. And went to jail or got knocked out or whatever the case maybe I can have a chance at the -- that we're -- people that are doing wrong thing in being punished. Privileges and giving -- and."

" Well there was a gangster -- how we went there. M a few years back he went to prison. And he had started to he had started having hair transplants before with the president. And they have a rule Charlotte. -- the rule is if you've begun a medical procedure even."