The ban is based on concerns that the game might “foster an inmate’s obsession with escaping from the real-life correctional environment, fostering hostility, violence and escape behavior,” as quoted in the New York Times, which then dryly observes,
The court, which is based in Chicago, acknowledged that there was no evidence of marauding gangs spurred to their acts of destruction by swinging imaginary mauls, but it ruled nonetheless that the prison’s decision was “rationally related” to legitimate goals of prison administration.
See, I would think that time spent fighting imaginary orcs would be time not spent planning real-world mischief, and thus potentially to be encouraged--but of course I must admit I know next to nothing about prison administration.
It's also demonstrably true that time spent fighting imaginary orcs does not mean there is no time available for other things, such as work, school, socializing, shopping, reading blogs, and most likely planning real-world mischief, so I'm not saying D&D would be the answer to all problems.
It's a start, though!
My first thought, hearing the concern about D&D gangs, was to scoff and say "why don't they just come right out and say that they're banning it because they think this guy doesn't deserve to have any fun?"*
This post at Above The Law, discussing the case with much more legal knowledge than I possess, kind of bears me up. (Also watch out for the classic "only pathetic losers who can't get laid play D&D" lines!--no mention of this topic would be complete without them.)
*My second thought was "when did BADD start running prisons in Wisconsin?"
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