NCJ Number
197225
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 27 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2002 Pages: 6-7
Date Published
September 2002
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses an inter-American declaration intended to improve prison conditions.
Abstract
During June 2001, the Costa Rican government presented to the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) the Draft Inter-American Declaration Governing the Rights and Care of Persons Deprived of Liberty. The draft declaration contains 56 articles that include general and specific principles about incarceration, including: (1) Every person deprived of liberty shall be afforded humane conditions of imprisonment and detention; (2) The administration of penitentiaries and detention centers shall be conducted with greater transparency and accountability; (3) The care of people deprived of liberty shall be subject to public scrutiny; (4) The use of alternative forms of conflict resolution shall be promoted; (5) A maximum capacity for penitentiaries shall be established and implemented to prevent overcrowding; and (6) Rights and freedoms shall not be used as privileges or rewards, nor shall the denial of rights or freedoms be used as punishment.