Prisoner told to pay electricity bill

[Kellanved]

CELLE - A German jailbird has been told that the power socket in his cell is not free: a court has ordered part of his earnings docked to pay for electricity for his game console.

Prisoners are kept one to a cell in Germany and are allowed to put up posters, watch TV and operate small appliances. But Meppen Prison, near the Dutch border, said the man had accumulated so many appliances that he had to pay a bill.

The prisoner went to court in protest at the EUR 1.75 monthly charge, lost, and lost again on appeal.

...
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=8590

[Massacure]

1. lol, they earn money?

I never thought you got put to work in jail. I thought you sat in a sell for 23 horus a day.

[Kellanved]

2. yes

They work, produce stuff etc.
There are a few pretty hip brands produced in prisons.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/05/23/wgerm23.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/05/23/ixworld.html


Edit: No, not in German prisons. Most prisoners are allowed to work, sozialize, get additional education and so on. Even leaving the prison for a day-job is pretty usual. Nor is the right to vote (etc) affected by a conviction.