12. Video Game Consoles
Arguably one of the biggest and most expensive luxuries that people buy in modern times is a video games console. They can provide countless hours of fun, whether from multiplayer gaming or massive singleplayer experiences. They are, however, not something that most people would consider a necessity. This perhaps explains why so many people were so upset when it emerged that up to a third of all inmates in the UK have access to a video game console.
There are plenty of restrictions regarding the use of the consoles, meaning they are not simply given to prisoners on demand. Instead, only those with the highest ratings for trust and good behavior can have a console in their cell, while the choice of games is limited to those that do not have an adult rating. Additionally, most of the consoles are older devices, such as a PlayStation or Nintendo 64, so that they cannot be used to connect to the internet. According to prison officials, the consoles help inmates pass time and so reduce violence and increase safety for guards.
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