Better keep them away from the library and internet in general then. There's ideas everywhere! (Said jokingly, I get the parental concern)
> I wonder how often they make methanol in these stills as well.
Every time. The distilling process doesn't make it though, it's a natural product of fermentation.
Making and operating a still isn't hard (clearly!) and the risks associated with consuming "homemade" product are greatly overstated. The risks associated with fire/explosion are greater, but should be reduced in this situation since there's not an open flame. I wouldn't be surprised if the prisoners are tossing the "heads cut", but even if they didn't, there shouldn't be enough methanol to cause toxicity (especially when consumed with the ethanol!). I've read that a lot of the methanol toxicity stories originate from the Prohibition era and were caused by failed attempts to remove methanol out of denatured alcohol sold as degreaser, not due to hooch.
edit: I'm sorry to be blunt about it, but "think of the children" and the appeal for censorship is responsible for the abomination that is the modern chemistry set.