Prison Lifting: For or Against?

[BodybuildingUniverse]

Was just reading a debate on an old article in Sports Illustrated regarding a convicted murderer (Greg Lowe) serving a life sentence that was allowed to leave the prison to compete in a major powerlifting competition —_which he won.

What are your thoughts? Should any prisoners be allowed to lift — let alone compete? Should it be based on the crime?

A quote from Rick Telander, author of the Sports Illustrated Article as it appeared in the Oct 17, 1988 edition:

“You say to it yourself every time you enter one of these joints. Doors clang or roll or buzz shut behind you, and you think, “If I really had to, if I really had to, I could do time. Not that I want to. God help me, God help any man who crosses into darkness. But if I had to – with the help of sports, maybe – I could do time. I’m sure I could . . .”

 

[Bulldog_10]

I'm against it...it's just asking for trouble.

 

[The_Eviscerator]

I think you have to give the prisoners something to do athletically. It gives them some hope and can be used as a control mechanism. If the prisoners have something they enjoy they will be less likely to act violently in fear of losing the privelage.

We seem to forget that prisons are called "Correctional" facilities. Some people seem to think that there should be nothing but pain and violence for prisoners during their time there. What happens when they are released? The pain and violence is unleashed on society.

 

[Bulldog_10]

I think you have to give the prisoners something to do athletically. It gives them some hope and can be used as a control mechanism. If the prisoners have something they enjoy they will be less likely to act violently in fear of losing the privelage.

We seem to forget that prisons are called "Correctional" facilities. Some people seem to think that there should be nothing but pain and violence for prisoners during their time there. What happens when they are released? The pain and violence is unleashed on society.

Maybe it could be used as a privilege or something like that. Or maybe you can work out on specific days, so that there aren't too many people around the weights at the same time.

 

[BigAndy69]

Definetely for! You need to give these guys something to look forward to...you don't just lock them up and throw away the key...

 

[DeepZenPill]

You know there's a huge problem with our prisons regarding actual correction and rehabilitation. Prison shouldn't be a country club, but the prisoners should be given constructive activities to participate in. Athletics definitely falls under this category. Just punishing our prisoners doesn't fix shit. They just get released back to society and become repeat offenders.

In countries where they actually focus on rehabilitation in prison they have far fewer repeat offenders. But then again Americans might just be a whole different beast when it comes to crime.

 

[Bulldog_10]

Definetely for! You need to give these guys something to look forward to...you don't just lock them up and throw away the key...

most of them, no...but some of them, I'd definitely lock them up and throw away the key.

 

[tiger88]

ALL for it, one of my bros finds from the joint said that it was the highlight of his day to lift for the time being in the yard(this dude nver lifted before he got into the joint and loved it and still does now outsideprison) and about some of them getting TOO big or TOO strong is bullshit, THEY WILL KICK YOUR ASS WETHER LIFTING WIEGHTS OR NOT, OR STABB YOU NO MATTER WHAT THEY CAN BENCH.....plus lifting wieghts lowers deppression so that too

 

[jubei]

I am for it 100 percent. Give them something positive to work towards.

 

[Devastation]

Pro weights in prison systems. Gives those guys something worth striving for.