What “rights” do California inmates have anyway?
So what are these fundamental constitutional rights enjoyed by societys outcasts? They are those civil rights that we as a civilized society recognize to be merited by all, regardless of their crimes, in accordance with evolving standards of decency. They provide the framework that governs prisoner care and treatment. General principles There are many statutes, regulations and constitutional provisions that apply to prison conditions. Here well discuss a few key principles. Prison rules Generally speaking, California’s jails and prisons can implement rules that are designed for the legitimate running of the facility. The rules must relate to the safety, security and efficiency of the custodial facility. They cannot be arbitrary or based in malice. Lets look at some examples: Example: Prison officials have learned that a number of prison gang attacks have been facilitated through inmate correspondence with fellow gang members at other correctional facilities.23 They also have learned th
