Murderes hardly deserve the pathetic lives they continue to live, let alone chess.
NJ Inmates vs. Princeston Students: Prison Chess
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Perhaps the humanitarian perspective is somewhat that, while yes, these individuals might need to be removed from contact with society, that they still deserve some avenues of improvement, for their overall psycho spiritual development. Yes - they've done something wrong, perhaps, and maybe they ought to be separated according to court rulings, and they do suffer, I think, the isolation is an unavoidable, personal torture.
In the face of that, allowing them the taste of our potentially enobling game... seems completely appropriate if we believe even a mite in rehabilitation?
... unless you think that prison life should be some kind of harsh, perpetual punishment, well, then I suppose you might imagine that allowing these imprisoned individuals the occasional civil human contact or some kind of mental engagement in the study of a board game, anything at all other than food alone - would be somewhat too kind, even hedonistic in comparison to the chastisement they deserve for their misdeeds?
Personally, as far as the idea of convicts and the general populace interacting is concerned, the idea they'd play chess together seems pretty agreeable to me.
Yes, people deserve punishment for severe crimes, but yes, we, at large, must remain ultimately humane, within the domain of forgiveness, because that is foundation of what it is we're defending from criminals, in essence, and the bedrock from which we derive the right to, collectively, pass judgement at all.
How much chess do murder victims play? How much enjoyment are they allowed?
Oh.....right....
I'm with Rael, prisons, often referred to as penitentiaries, are places where criminals are separated from society, which entails the loss of most personal freedom and choice. that is the extent of their "punishment." in theory they are supposed to spend their time considering the consequences of their crimes and to rehabilitate and make penance, hence penitentiary. If an inmate follows the rules and displays good behaviour then yes, reward them for it with chess, tv time, exercise time, etc. and, if they do not follow the rules and make trouble, then there is something which can be taken away.
in addition to the humanitarian aspect of it, content inmates generally don't riot and kill guards.
interesting fact - prisoners on death row are allowed a great many amenities because their time on death row is not considered to be part of the punishment but only a place to be held until the punishment (death) may be administered.
Great article.......I played in my very first USCF rated OTB tourney circa 1975-76
at Reidsville State Prison in Reidsville, GA...I came out with a 1580/4 provisional rating...(5 rd weekend swiss...missed my 4th rd game due to being late because of attending church!!!!!)...The prison inmates had a great chess library, and a very well organized chess club...as well as players in the 1800-2000 range...My local high school chess club also played a couple of matches against their chess club at the correctional facility...it was a great exchange of some good chess games with the inmates....this article brought back some memories to me.........THANX!!!!!!!!!!
Great article. Thanks for sharing.