Prisoners’ Rights
Incarcerated people have a right to basic humane treatment. Likewise, inmates have a right to live free of fear of assault, cruelty, and deprivation. When jails and prisons fail to meet these requirements, inmates have a right to demand change.
This page will discuss some of the rights to which incarcerated people are entitled. This discussion is non-exhaustive and is for educational purposes only. If you or an incarcerated loved one is currently having their rights violated, please contact us.
Freedom from assault and harassment.
"Being violently assaulted in prison is simply not part of the penalty that criminal offenders pay for their offenses against society."
Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 833 (1994).
Prison officials have a responsibility to safeguard the physical and psychological well-being of inmates. This means protecting you from other inmates that prison officials know pose a threat to your safety. Officials also have a duty to refrain from using excessive force on prisoners.
If you or your loved one experienced assault, harassment, of excessive force while incarcerated, please contact us immediately.
Free Exercise of Religion
Inmates has a right to express their sincerely held religious beliefs. “It is no business of courts to say that what is a religious practice or activity for one group is not religion under the protection of the First Amendment.” Martinelli v. Dugger, 817 F.2d 1499, 1503 (11th Cir. 1987).
If you believe that prison officials have denied you your right to practice your religion, contact us immediately.
Right to Visitation
Under Colorado and federal law, prisoners have certain rights to receive outside visitation. It is unconstitutional for prisons to permanently deny a prisoner the ability to receive any outside visitors.
Receiving visitation and maintaining connection with loved ones is critical for an inmate’s physiological and physical well-being.
If you are being deprived of all visitation, contact us.