Sheriff Bans Jerry Springer TV Show in Jail -- Stabbings Rates Lower

[Lone_Star_Dem]

How's that for a sensational headline? It's not really factual either, I was going for an attention getter.

I realize that he did several other things that also helped influence the drop in stabbings. I just found it interesting that one of the changes sited was the loss their Jerry Springer privileges.

While I'm far from a fan of such programs, and I do agree that more educational viewing should have been selected in the first place, I wonder how much violence that one program could have been behind?

I've always felt that watching that sort of TV tended to turn a person into a mush-brained vegetable, or perhaps that that was their target audience. Goes to show what I know. :shrug:




Sheriff makes changes at Cook County Jail

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, in a speech to the City Club of Chicago, outlined steps he has taken to regain full control of one the nation's largest jails.

Dart has ended the inmates abilities to get an orange, buy packs of Ramen noodles and lean against metal fences for starters, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday.

He has also taken away their right to watch "The Jerry Springer Show," as well as changed the style of toothbrushes, aerosol cans and lunch trays used in the jail.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/09/13/sheriff_makes_changes_at_cook_county_jail/5026/

[DS1]

1. Maybe some classic Attenborough might teach them something

and help them appreciate life

[Richard Steele]

2. That bit makes sense to me.

I wouldn't pipe Jerry Springer into a prison any sooner than
I'd pipe in "Ultimate Fighting League".

Sounds like the other changes were to replace objects that
can be fashioned into weapons; also a pretty common-sense
move, IMHO.

I don't understand why he's removed the ramen, though.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. I think that the wrapping of ramen can be used to make weapons

It's melted and hardened then sharpened.

I wouldn't pipe Springer in anyplace, let alone to a bunch of inmates. Many of which are predisposed to violence. Why they ever thought that was proper viewing is beyond me.

I'm just wondering how much of an influence that had on the reduction of stabbings.

[Richard Steele]

4. I bet you're right! Thanks. nm

[Laughing Mirror]

5. I can understand they would ban the prisoners Jerry Springer

But no more oranges? I don't understand this.

[ThePowerofWill]

7. Because in jail people dry and smoke orange peels. (nt)

[Laughing Mirror]

10. Can it get you high?

I'd never heard of that.

[ThePowerofWill]

13. Nope, no buzz.

The taste is ok though (i've smoked a peel or two in jail).

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. The article says they were fermenting them

I suppose they were getting a low grade alcoholic beverage from them? :shrug:

[Laughing Mirror]

9. Oh thanks, I missed that

It does give you quite a buzz, I have been told, especially when everybody on the tier saves up his daily orange and one of them who works in the kitchen kicks in some yeast. Party time.

[KittyWampus]

11. They Use Oranges To Make "Pruno" & Get Shit-Faced Drinking It.

Recipe for Pruno:

10 oranges
8 oz can of fruit cocktail
40-60 sugarcubes
16 oz water
ketchup

A big plastic bag that can be sealed

[Laughing Mirror]

12. I don't want to imagine the hangover from that the morning after

But at least the body's getting some vitamin C. I wonder what replacement for oranges the prison is putting in place or if they thought about it. Bonjour scurvy.

[madrchsod]

6. they`ll find something else.....

96 acres of hell......

"The Department of Corrections is one of the largest single-site pre-trial holding facilities in the country. Sheriff's Correctional Officers are responsible for the security of more than 9,000 detainees, most of whom are awaiting trial in the criminal court system."

there are 1000`s more than the official 9000 number

never end up in cook county jail....

[Carrieyazel]

14. People still watch Springer?

He went out of vogue, what, six years ago?