INMATE RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS

Criminal Justice Reform and Prisoner Rights are globally one of the most controversial topics because this system determines whether or not a victim receives justice if they are harmed, and also determines the punishment a perpetrator faces based on their crime, which is often very biased towards minority or institutionally oppressed groups within a country.

In some instances, there are individuals imprisoned who are completely innocent. Regardless of the situation, there are human rights debates occurring which ask whether or not prisoners should have more rights within prison and help when they are released, so that prisons become a place of rehabilitation and a place to remove criminals from normal society, or if it is a place for punishment and the removal of human rights, with a disregard for human life behind bars.

THE INTERSECTION OF RACE AND CLASS

Currently the United States and China have the highest incarceration rates in the world, while South Africa has one of the highest crime rates, and Germany has one of the best rehabilitation systems in place for their prisoners. These four countries are important to focus on because of their differing and significant cases.

In the United States, the majority of prisoners are people of color from poor backgrounds, and due to the high volume of prisoners, many prisoners are left in conditions without adequate healthcare, or in situations where there physical safety is at risk because of cohabitation with more violent prisoners, and potentially the worst form of incarceration, solitary confinement. All of these conditions lead to poor mental health, which also goes uncared for, making it a challenge for prisoners to readjust to society when released, as their physical and mental conditions are often worse exiting than entering.

POOR CONDITIONS ARE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

In Chinese prisons, the prisoners are often confined to small areas, some without adequate bedding, and they must engage in laborious work before being charged for their crime. They also have limited contact with their loved ones. In the United States, there are similar conditions, as trials are delayed, leading to overcrowding in prisons and limited opportunities to contact family. Due to the influx of prisoners, the government often takes advantage of the body count and expects free labor from the prisoners, not always as a means to have an activity to pass the time, but labor that looks similar to issues of poor factory conditions in China, and slave labor in the American antebellum south of the 1800’s.

ACCESS TO WEAPONS AND THE INCREASE OF CRIME OR CULTURAL TRENDS

South Africa’s prisons share similar human rights offenses as seen in the United States and China, however, human rights groups have highlighted a notable increase in sexual abuse within prisons, which is common across the globe. The amount of prisoners has increased since the year 2016, after a significant decrease between 2004 and 2010, where there were 403 prisoners per 100,000 within the population. South Africa does however have some of the highest rates of gun and knife crimes, as well as domestic violence and sexual assault, which has caused the country to hold the largest “supermax” prison in the world with 1,440 spots. 

LEARNING FROM HISTORY FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT AND REFORMS

Germany has one of the lowest rates of in-prison violence in the world, with correctional officers receiving adequate training, medical benefits, and a raise every two years, with the goal of helping inmates improve their life. This training, in combination with the high technology security equipment creates an environment that is more geared towards rehabilitation, in comparison to American, Chinese, and African prisons.

LEARNING THROUGH INTERCULTURAL DISCUSSIONS

Every country has its advantages and disadvantages, but it is evident that history, culture, ethnic demographics, poverty levels, and the willingness to engage with human rights discussions and interventions is important in improving the rights of prisoners, so that they too can have a life of quality and re-enter society, with a better morale than when they entered prison, assuming that the crime was truly committed by the individual.

Following the completion of a Master's Degree in Political and Ethnic Conflict Resolution at King's College London, India will embark on PHD programme at the University of Westminster in London. Her research will focus on exploring the intersectionality of Criminal Justice Systems in the West. Currently, she is a freelance writer and writes about issues of social justice, human rights, and education.

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