C HAPTER 26. B OOKS , NEWSPAPERS , BROADCAST MEDIA AND THE W ORLD W IDE W EB Books, newXspapers, the broadcast media and the World Wide Web are important means through which prisoners can keep in touch with the outside world. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS There is likely to be considerable variance in the availability of funds. Trainees should be reminded that, if detainees are paid for the work they do, in line with the instruments, they would all have access to some money of their own. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION A list of topics is provided in the Manual. Methodology: The trainees should be divided into small groups for discussion. Each group should be given the three topics to discuss. Facilitators should move around the groups to aid discussion. Allow time for a brief reporting back session. Points to be highlighted/suggested areas for discussion: 39. – Paperback books are generally available because they tend to be willingly donated by libraries when no longer required; 39. – Magazines that are given away with newspapers may be donated in the same way; 39. – Schools and colleges may have old books to donate; 39. – Non-governmental organizations may be able to coordinate the collections; 39. – It is difficult for prison staff to maintain fair and equitable regimes when some prisoners have access to far more resources than others; 39. – One way of preventing imbalance is to restrict the amount of money any prisoner may have access to; 39. – It may be possible in some jurisdictions and in some circumstances for prisoners to pool their prison earnings or their private cash and to purchase a required item. It would probably be necessary for ownership to be transferred to the prison; 39. – In extreme cases, the prison may make arrangements to supply these items to prisoners who are genuinely needy; 39. – The instruments require that prisoners be kept informed of developments in the community and beyond during their period of imprisonment; 39. – It would not be reasonable to restrict access to publications available in the community for reasons other than cost or some other specific concern; 39. – It might be considered reasonable to prevent access to violent, sexist or racist material even though it was available in the community; 123