The findings of a reporter at Missouri's Jefferson City State Correctional Facility has resulted in the pulling of some 35 titles out of a possibility 80 that were being played by prisoners on a regular basis. Games like Hitman: Contracts were available to play on PS2's at the prison, having been purchased out of proceeds accrued from the self-run cafeteria. Indeed, the superintendent at the facility admitted he thought that most of the games portrayed only cartoon-like violence; though has now stated that only sci-fi and games will be permitted in the future.

"It has a good effect on helping us run the prison and make sure they're busy and not trying to work on ways to escape or harm others," Superintendent Dormire explained. "That's kind of our bottom line - public safety."

"You get people in a maximum-security prison who have already gone over the line," commented 'expert' Jacqueline Helfgott. "They're not afraid to engage in violence, unlike the nerd sitting in front of his computer."

It is believed a similar situation may be reviewed at other prisons though games consoles in clinks stateside are believed to be uncommon in general. Let's hope none of the inmates in question re-offend, lawyer Jack Thompson might have to get involved...

By Luke Guttridge

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  1. Jackie Helfgott Unregistered 4 years ago

    I am writing because Ive received a lot of negative emails regarding the "nerd" quote that was printed in the Kansas City Star story on the playstations in the Missouri prisons.

    I don't recall saying the word "nerd" and when I read the article was stunned at how the comment came out. The quote was taken out of two lengthy conversations and Im surprised out of all I said that this is what went into the article. What I recall saying was that a person in a maximum security prison who has already gone over the line is not afraid to engage in violence, unlike the average person sitting at home playing video games. If I did say "nerd" in the conversation it certainly wasnt in a pejorative sense, but rather to highlight the extreme opposite of the human continuum (and not in reference to all gamers). I play the games myself, spend an entire week in one of my classes playing a networked game of Soldier of Fortune with 20+ students, and know a lot of regular (non-nerdy) people who play computer and video games. I think the creators and many players of these games are quite brilliant and also think the games have cathartic as well as criminogenic effects, depending on the user. I will definitely be more careful with my choice of words in the future when I engage in a lengthy conversation with a reporter.

    I am commenting here because I have respect for the gaming community would like to clarify the quote and apologize to those who were offended by it. I have asked the reporter to change the quote, but he believes I did in fact say the word "nerd" which is a possibility since I talked to him for quite a while slipping into a casual conversation. Perhaps no one will give it another thought after a few days, but I have received so many emails I'm compelled to make an attempt to clarify since it seems the quote has offended many people and is being interpreted in ways that are inconsistent with the original intent and context of the statement. JH



  2. Tim Unregistered 4 years ago

    Apology accepted :-)

    I don't think anyone really takes that much exception to being called a 'nerd' anyhow. I know I don't.

  3. computer user Unregistered 4 years ago

    The most used term nowdays is geek, computer geek sounds cooler than computer nerd :P

  4. Jack Matthews Unregistered 4 years ago

    i think ps2 is better than Game Cube