Which rights, if any, do inmates lose when they are incarcerated? How do these rights change over time and how are these rights determined? Include examples of some of these rights in your discussion.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

When sentenced to prison or jail, offenders forfeit certain rights or have their rights and privileges restricted. Rights have changed over time based on the Court’s interpretation of the Constitution. Examples of these rights include:
Inmates have a right to a certain amount of privacy, but not complete privacy.
Inmates have a right to have visitors, but these rights are restricted as visitation is a privilege.
Inmates have a right to medical care, but the care only needs to be reasonable.
Inmates have a right to be protected against cruel and unusual punishment, but they do not have a right to be protected against punishment (and if they are injured during security measures, the infliction of injury is not cruel and unusual if the security measures were in good faith).
Inmates have a right to do media interviews, but these interviews can be restricted.
Inmates have a right to practice their religion, but the religious practices can be limited if it is believed that they make it too difficult to secure the prison environment (e.g., using sacrificial knives is prohibited and practicing martial arts may be limited).
Inmates have a right to receive and send mail, but this mail can be, and will be, opened and read by prison staff for security purposes, unless it is privileged materials from their attorney.
Inmates have a right to file complaints to the courts.
Inmates have a right to “reasonable” dietary needs related to religious beliefs.