There are many recreation opportunities that are in the prison system today. “Prison recreation programs provide constructive ways for inmates to use their spare time while also endowing them with skills that may help prevent them from reoffending” (1). This makes it easy for inmates to ‘blow off steam’ and use their spare time in a productive way rather than sitting around and thinking of ways that they can commit more crimes once they are released. “Recreation promotes mental and emotional stimulation as well as teaching skills through the prison's law library, painting, arts and crafts, music, or technical activities like masonry, carpentry, horticulture and barbering, creative writing, and educational classes” (1). Not all recreation has to be physical. Many inmates even obtain their GED or college education while incarcerated.
“Some critics argue that prisoners should not be allowed to have access to recreational activities because they are in prison to be punished” (2). I agree with this statement. I think that the money that is used to fund recreation in prison could be put to use in much better ways. When an inmate is punished while already incarcerated, recreation time is normally one of the first things that is taken away. Although I think that inmates should be able to go outside, I do not think that there needs to be basketball courts, weights or other extra items unless those items were donated to the prison by an individual. There is such an issue with prison budgets that I cannot logically comprehend why the prisons are spending money on recreational items instead of using the funds to build more or better facilities to house the inmates.
Women’s recreation is a bit different from the men’s recreation. “Aerobics, yoga, cooking contests, sewing, crochet, hair dressing opportunities, theatre, arts, and music are all common. Women are not as frequently offered weightlifting or carpentry courses. While women's programs and recreation stress...