Imprisonment: the Legal Status and Rights of Prisoners

This exposition on the legal rights of prisoners and their status within the judicial system provides a useful source of reference for all practitioners of criminal law as well as prison governors seeking clarification of this expanding area of law. The opening chapter focuses on the history and structure of the prison system, and examines the impact of the "Prison Act 1952" and the "Prison Rules 1964". Special attention is given to various categories of prisoners, and the daily regime and discipline in prison including the effect of the "Control Unit" cases and "R v Deputy Governor of Parkhurst Prison ex p. Leech". In particular the latter is an important example of one of the most recent cases on the subject of judicial review of disciplinary hearings. There is also examination of RSC Ord 53 as an appropriate remedy to complaints about prison treatment and as a control over the disciplinary powers of prison governors.