NCJ Number
100463
Date Published
1986
Length
28 pages
Annotation
An ideal British prison regime should reduce prisoners' rights beyond those guaranteed other citizens only to the extent necessary to contain the inmates, and remaining rights should be supplemented with additional special rights.
Abstract
Segregation from the community is the primary function of imprisonment. Interference in inmates' rights should not exceed that required to achieve this purpose. A policy of retaining the rights normally guaranteed citizens but within the prison confines is ideal. There would be some variation in inmates' rights according to the purposes of various sentences, but each sentence would involve the retention of certain rights while in prison. The law should specify the rights inmates retain under particular sentences. Additionally, the dependence imposed by incarceration requires that positive options available outside prison be provided in the prison regime, such as satisfying employment, education, and vocational training. Inmate participation in these options should be voluntary. Current British law recognizes few special inmate rights. A fundamental change in approach to prisoners' legal status is required.