NCJ Number
56925
Date Published
1979
Length
96 pages
Annotation
MOST PRISONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF LETTERS PRISONERS MAY SEND AND RECEIVE, LIMIT VISITS, MAKE NO PROVISION FOR TELEPHONE CALLS, AND OTHERWISE ISOLATE PRISONERS. SPECIFIC REFORMS ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE HOWARD LEAGUE FOR PRISON REFORM SURVEYED RESTRICTIONS ON PRISONERS' OUTSIDE CONTACTS IN MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS AND IN BORSTALS. OPEN INSTITUTIONS GENERALLY HAD FEWER RESTRICTIONS THAN MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS. HOWEVER, ALL PRISONS LIMITED THE NUMBER OF LETTERS WHICH COULD BE SENT OR RECEIVED (ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE OPEN INSTITUTIONS WERE ABOLISHING THIS RESTRICTION). CENSORSHIP WAS PREVALENT AND CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS. VISITS WERE LIMITED AND NO PROVISIONS WERE MADE FOR PHONE CALLS. THE PROBLEM IS SEEN AS BALANCING THE PRISON'S NEED FOR SECURITY AGAINST THE PRISONER'S NEED FOR CONTACT WITH HIS OR HER FAMILY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PRISONERS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEND AND TO RECEIVE AS MANY LETTERS AS THEY WISH AND CAN PAY FOR. MAIL SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR CONTRABAND, BUT CENSORSHIP SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISONERS SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP SHOULD STILL BE ALLOWED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT PRISON CONDITIONS. VISITING FACILITIES SHOULD BE IMPROVED, PRISONERS SHOULD BE PLACED AS NEAR TO THEIR HOMES AS POSSIBLE, TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE PAID FOR FAMILIES TOO POOR TO VISIT OTHERWISE, AND FAMILY CENTERS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO ACCOMODATE VISITS BY CHILDREN. HOME LEAVE SHOULD BE GRANTED MORE LIBERALLY, TELEPHONES SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE, WORK RELEASE PLANS SHOULD BE EXPANDED, AND THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN SUPPORTIVE WORK WITH PRISONER'S FAMILIES. DETAILED STUDY RESULTS AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)