NCJ Number
56096
Journal
CONTEMPORARY REVIEW Volume: 113 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 309-312
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A CASE IS MADE FOR RECOGNITION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PRISONERS' RIGHTS IN BRITAIN, INCLUDING AN EXAMINATION OF SPECIFIC PROBLEM AREAS INVOLVED.
Abstract
RECOGNITION OF PRISONERS' RIGHTS COULD REDUCE PRISON TENSION AND MAKE THE ADMINISTRATION OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES EASIER AND MORE CONSTRUCTIVE. INMATES WOULD FEEL LESS EMBITTERED AND POWERLESS IF THEY KNEW THAT THEY POSSESSED CERTAIN RIGHTS AND REHABILITATION WOULD BE MADE EASIER. AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, THERE SHOULD BE A LEVEL BELOW WHICH THE TREATMENT AND CONDITIONS OF PRISONERS COULD NOT FALL. WHILE THE CONCEPT OF PRISONERS' RIGHTS IS SLOWLY BEING ACCEPTED IN BRITAIN, THE PRISON DEPARTMENT OF THE HOME OFFICE HAS RESISTED SUCH RIGHTS. FIVE ASPECTS OF PRISON CONDITIONS DESERVE ATTENTION. FIRST, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON THE NUMBER AND CONTENTS OF LETTERS WHICH A PRISONER MAY SEND AND RECEIVE AND ON VISITS TO A PRISONER, EVEN THOUGH IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT SUCH CONTACTS ARE IMPORTANT. WHILE SUCH A POLICY HAS BEEN LARGELY DISCREDITED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT IT WILL BE DROPPED FOR FEAR OF OFFENDING PRISON OFFICERS OR APPEARING TOO LIBERAL. SECONDLY, PRISONERS SHOULD HAVE AN EFFECTIVE MECHANISM THROUGH WHICH THEIR GRIEVANCES CAN BE RESOLVED. THIRDLY, PRISONERS SHOULD BE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO CONTACT LAWYERS ON A REGULAR BASIS, RATHER THAN JUST WHEN THEY ARE CONSIDERING CIVIL PROCEDURES. ALSO, PRISON DISCIPLINARY PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED ONLY AFTER A QUALIFIED BOARD (INCLUDING A LAWYER) DETERMINES THAT THE PRISONER IS GUILTY OF A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE. FINALLY, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES SHOULD NO LONGER BE IMMUNE FROM BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. PRISONERS SHOULD BE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO LEGAL REDRESS. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.