Facebook to yank prison inmates' pages

Prison inmates in California found to have updated their Facebook profiles will lose their pages as part of a new policy designed to crack down against criminal abuse of social networks.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it will turn over to Facebook account information it gathers on prison inmates who have updated their pages since being put behind bars. Facebook will then wipe out their pages for violating the company's user policies.

"Access to social media allows inmates to circumvent our monitoring process and continue to engage in criminal activity," CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate said in a statement. "This new cooperation between law enforcement and Facebook will help protect the community and potentially avoid future victims."

Although it's not illegal for inmates to keep Facebook profiles which were created prior to incarceration, they are prohibited from updating them while on the inside. However, California prison authorities say there is ample evidence of inmates who maintain active Facebook accounts - either from inside jail or with the help of someone on the outside working on the prisoner's behalf.

The CDCR said that in many cases, prisoners have used their Facebook profiles either to deliver threats or to make sexual advances. In one instance, it related how a convicted child molester had sent several pieces of mail to a women's 17-year-old daughter, containing accurate drawings even though he had been behind bars for seven years. "Details of the victim, such as how she wore her hair and the brand of clothes she wore were accurate. An investigation revealed the inmate had used a cell phone to find and view the MySpace and Facebook web pages of the victim. With access to the pages, the offender was able to obtain current photos, which he used to draw his pictures," the CDCR said.

[kroo5]

I hate to see people with no idea about what is going on with the prison system talk about what should be done. If the facts were that only violent, predatory offenders were in jail, then FINE! Make them miserable. Torture them. I don't care. But the FACTS are that 97% of Federal inmates, and nearly as many state inmates are NON-VIOLENT offenders and 9 times out of 10 serving time for victimless crimes. Wake up people. We are making slaves out of human beings to fill the pockets of politicians, and special interest groups. Has anyone ever seen the Facebook page of an inmate?? I love how these people try to scare people who will never look under the sheet for the facts into thinking that these men are using the pages for criminal activity. It's ridiculous. They use them to beg their friends and family to write them. Or to update friends and family on their situation. Again, if they were all child molesters and murderers, do what you will. They are not. They are fathers, mothers, brothers, sons and friends. And serving time for hurting NO ONE!!

[thinkaboutit13]

jt may have an outsider's perspective that is appealing to many. The reality is that tv is a babysitter. It helps to distract the offenders, allowing officers to go home each night. Yeah, forgot about them didn't you? We're hard working, law abiding, tax paying citizens too. Granted, no one wants a prison in teir back yard, but they have to go somewhere and we have to do thaings to keep the communities safe. Internet... No Way! we don't allow it in our state prisons. California is an annomily. No cell phones either. That system sets themselves up for these issues by virtue of their policies. Responsible policies can do a lot to prevent most of this. Please be informed.

[thinkaboutit13]

Sorry about some of the spelling. Mind faster than the fingers thing.

[damiross]

Government workers do not pay taxes like non-government workers.
Think about it: A non-government worker gets his pay from his employer. His employer gets its money from customers.
A government worker gets his pay from his employer. His employer gets its money from taxpayers. Therefore while you, as a government worker, does pay taxes it is more of a give-back. The government gives you money then you give part of that money back to the government.

[royrogers1948]

I too agree with jt 100%.

[nativecc]

And people wonder why this country is such a mess? THEY ARE IN PRISON! I agree with JT 100%.

[damiross]

Many of the inmates are in prison due to laws that should not be on the books to begin with. In other words, they are there because of drugs. These people need to be in rehab, not prison.
Contrary to its name, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation does neither.

[jt92202]

How about not allowing them to be on the internet in the first place!!! AND this guy has a TV in his cell, ***!!! Bring back Chain Gangs and make this people work while they are in prison to pay for their keep!!! We have become way to soft and PC in regards to prisoners!!! If they do have TV they should have to watch CSPAN only!!! That will make anyone think twice about re-offending!!!

[damiross]

Any inmate that as a TV in his/her room has had the TV set bought for him. It is not issued by the state. Again, inmates do not have access to the Internet unless they have a cell phone smuggled in to them. As I said earlier, most of these phones are smuggled in by guards.