Prisoners to get standup lessons

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on March 2nd, 2005

Tommy James sends along the following, from Ananova.com:

Prisoners get comedy lessons

A prison is offering criminals comedy courses.

Winchester Jail has hired comics to run the courses for 400 offenders reports The Sun.

The scheme is being funded with £3,500 public cash and by comedy bar chain Jongleurs.

One source said that, “This teaches inmates communication powers of empathy and humility.” We say that it puts that tiny seed of doubt in the mind of every comedy club patron from here on that “this bloke up the stage probably learned to do comedy while he was locked up for who knows what kind of crime.” Thanks, Jongleurs! And thank you, Winchester Jail!