The movement for Prisoners' rights is based on the principle that prisoners, even though they are deprived of liberty, are still entitled to basic human rights. Advocates for prisoners' rights argue that they are often deprived of very basic human rights, with the conivance of the prison authorities. They claim violations such as:
- prison authorities turning a blind eye to assault or rape of prisoners, failing to take sufficient steps to protect prisoners from assault or rape, or even alledgedly arranging for prisoners to be assaulted or raped by other inmates as a form of punishment (see prisoner rape)
- providing insufficient treatment for serious medical conditions
- refusing freedom of expression, to read materials and communicate (particularly, in cases of foreign languages in prisons)
- punishing prisoners who raise complaints about bad conditions
- taking away prisoners rights to sue prison officials or governments for maltreatment, or to receive compensation for injuries caused by the negligence of prison authorities.
- Depriving inmates of freedom of religion.
Some in the prison right's movement also advocate:
- conjugal visitation
- providing education for inmates.
- increasing the wages for workers who are employed within prisons.
