Read Galorah Keshavarz's Article "Inmates Continue to Endure Constitutional Violations While California Struggles with Prison Reform"
The United States Constitution acts to guarantee fundamental rights concerning conditions of confinement and treatment for all criminal defendants sentenced to U.S. prisons. Pursuant to the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, individuals convicted of a crime have the right to be free of cruel and unusual punishment while in prison. While no universal definition exists of what constitutions “cruel and unusual” punishment, it is settled that any punishment that is clearly inhumane or that violates basic human dignity may be deemed “cruel and unusual.” Typically, an inmate’s Eighth Amendment complaint regarding punishment and confinement conditions are brought in connection with federal civil rights laws, including the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), 18 U.S.C. §3626, and 42 U.S.C. §1983.
Continue reading Galorah's article as published in the January KPA Newsletter here.
