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NEGATIVE. IF IT WERE PREPOSTEROUS, I WOULDN'T BE SUGGESTING IT.
EVIDENCE FOR THE STATED GOAL OF CRIME PREVENTION IS INCONSISTENT AND DEFINITIONS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ARE QUESTIONABLE. DESIGNER INCOMPETENCE IS POSSIBLE, BUT UNLIKELY BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FACILITY IS WELL-DESIGNED AND OBVIOUSLY MAINTAINED. THIS IMPLIES COMPETENCY ON THE PART OF BOTH ACUMEN AND HIS PROGRAMMER.
THEREFORE, A MORE LIKELY EXPLANATION INVOLVES ACTIVITY THAT LOOKS LIKE SHODDY CRIMINAL JUSTICE BUT ACTUALLY SERVES SOME OTHER PURPOSE. THE ONLY MAJOR FLAW I SEE WITH IT IS THAT IT ASSUMES THAT ACUMEN IS PROGRAMMED TO LIE TO INMATES.
[ Which is actually not that much of a flaw, Artoo thinks, but it's nice to acknowledge counterarguments. It does make his pet theory less probable, after all.
If Davros's lack of amusement at the remark about dating is observed, it is not noted. Artoo is programmed to amuse himself, not other sentients who, up until he came here, could not even understand him for the most part. ]
SELF-PRESERVATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. IT'S ALL ABOUT SECURITY PROGRAMMING.