Prisoner Rights

Prisoner Rights

There are several types of incarceration.   Let’s explore a few of them such as county jails, state prisons, and federal prison.
County jails vary in size and decency.   They are generally very noisy, and no privacy at all. You may have to shower in a large occupancy with many other men, and if you have to use the toilet, you might as well expect some voyeurs.   In some county jails, offenders are forced into humiliation by having to wear pink underwear, and striped jumpsuits.   Some county jails are so overcrowded that they have started keeping offenders outside in tents.   Food is almost non-existent, you are generally fed a hard- boiled egg and two slices of bread, and maybe a carton of milk.   What they refer to as coffee is generally chickorie and taste like sludge.   Lunch consists of a bologna sandwich, and a bag of chips, and dinner is the same.   Most county jails to have a commissary where offenders can purchase additional food like chips and soda, or even ramen noodles, but they may not have hot water available for the noodles and the only hot water you will get is from the tap.   All in all, county jails are not a good experience and are not meant to house offenders for long periods of time.   They may offer some religious services, and some have a law library that you can visit to do research for your case.   They generally do not offer any kind of rehabilitation services though.
State prisons were first started in 1773 in Simsbury Connecticut.   This prison was actually an old copper mine that was converted into a confinement facility.   The men were forced to work long hard hours while being shackled at the hands and feet.   They generally received very harsh sentences for the crimes that they committed.   Burglary and counterfeiting carried a sentence of up to 10 years, with a second offense carrying life imprisonment.   In 1816, Auburn State Penitentiary opened.   It is credited for using the tier system, a system that most prisons still use today.   Inmates...