Prisoner's Rights

I do not believe a prisoner should have rights anywhere near the same extent as a free citizen who has not committed crimes has. When a person commits a crime he gives up his rights. People have rights because they are believed to be responsible, honest, and trustworthy citizens. If they commit a crime they prove that they are not responsible, honest, trustworthy people.

If these men and women have all these rights in prison, it can severely take power away from the correction institution and its' employees. Prisoners should not have luxuries. They should be fed what is needed to be healthy and not being given "goodies". Basic rights that everybody has is fine. They should be protected from other prisoners if needed, practicing their religious beliefs, having access to the courts, being free from cruel and unusual punishment, among other basic needs are fine. As long as the prisoners are kept healthy and safe amongst one another, that is all that they need. They are not being sent to go relax and enjoy themselves when they are sentenced to a prison term. It is supposed to be punishment for the crime that they have committed.

For the reasons of cruel and unusual punishment, inhumane living conditions, and prisoner safety is why I do not think the attitude of "out of sight, out of mind" is appropriate. If prison officials were free to do anything that they wanted, they could possibly be just as bad as the prisoners. They could take advantage of the situation and treat them like lab rats with no disregard for their health and well being.

Also, I do not believe inmates should have freedom of speech and assembly. They should not have the ability to protest in side the prisons. Protests can end up extremely ugly and dangerous; especially if those protesting are prisoners that do not care about what will happen to them if things turn violent. If the prison officials believe that a prisoner has the potential at starting some sort of up roar, the prison definitely should hold the right to some how some way make that person stop.

I believe prisoners should have a limited right to association. I believe family members that are not known offenders should be allowed to see their loved one in prison. Also, the Supreme Court's ruling on the Block vs. Rutherford case is one hundred percent perfect. At any time prison officials feel that a certain visitor(s) can be a danger to other inmates and/or the prison itself, that person should not be allowed to visit.

There is no way in the world that I believe a prisoner should have the right of unreasonable searches and seizures. They are in that prison for a reason. They