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No Dungeons & Dragons in Prison: Court

Prisons worry fantasy game could foster gang-like behavior

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 26, 2010 3:30 PM CST

(Newser) – An avid Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast had his dreams of playing the fantasy game behind bars dashed by an appeals court today. Kevin Singer, in prison for life for murder, had argued that being forbidden to play violated his rights under the 1st and 14th amendments. The Wisconsin prison system banned the game after an anonymous inmate sent a letter warning that Singer and others had formed a "gang" based on it, notes the Above the Law blog.

The court agreed with prison officials who argued that the game could “foster an inmate’s obsession with escaping from the real-life correctional environment, fostering hostility, violence and escape behavior," the New York Times reports. Legal scholars in the blogosphere—perhaps channeling their inner nerd—have argued that there's little evidence of bad behavior influenced by D&D. “If more inmates were über-nerdy D&D players, life would be good,” opined one Colorado lawyer.

Miniature figures used in the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Multi-sided dice used in the Dungeons and Dragons game. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Miniature figures used in the Dungeons and Dragons game are shown Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at the Wizards of the Coast headquarters in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 34 comments

Snarfeh

Jan 27, 2010 12:10 PM CST

If I were in prison for life, you'd better believe I would sooo want to escape to a fantasy world. Well, in between the three hots and a cot and being in charge of all the lesbians, that is....

Snarfeh

Jan 27, 2010 6:31 AM CST

Well, I'm not in prison, honey! Not yet, anyways..... ;o)

JGirl

Jan 27, 2010 5:54 AM CST

no, chupabob, you're making the assumption that i'm grouping all inmates and all games, when in fact i'm referring to those who want to do nothing more than entertain themselves. i did not, nor was i trying to, define games as "the nutrient-free candy of the mind". in fact i made no remark even closely resembling that.

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No Dungeons & Dragons in Prison: Court

Prisons worry fantasy game could foster gang-like behavior

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prison • inmates • freedom of speech • Dungeons & Dragons

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Measure is designed to save money

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Officers suspended after battle over bag of chips

San Quentin Inmates Rescue Boaters

Prison firefighters pull couple from San Francisco Bay

Inmate Demands California Pay for Sex Change

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No Dungeons & Dragons in Prison: Court

Prisons worry fantasy game could foster gang-like behavior

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

prison • inmates • freedom of speech • Dungeons & Dragons

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Texas Prisons Cut Lunch on Weekends

Measure is designed to save money

Supreme Court: California Must Release 46K Inmates

Upholds federal panel's decision on poor prison conditions

NY Inmate Breaks Up Guard Fight

Officers suspended after battle over bag of chips

San Quentin Inmates Rescue Boaters

Prison firefighters pull couple from San Francisco Bay

Inmate Demands California Pay for Sex Change

Lyralisa Stevens sues for surgery to move to safer women's prison

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Newser By Users

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