Pursuing Human Dignity Through Prison Oversight and Reform
A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "Crime and Justice".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 221
Editors
Interests: corrections, re-entry & community supervision; comparative & international criminology; drug treatment in corrections; gang violence; risk & needs assessment; sentencing; experimental & field research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The first directive of the United Nations’ Mandela Rules states that “All prisoners shall be treated with the respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings” (United Nations, 2015) United Nations. 2015. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). Available online: https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/Nelson_Mandela_Rules-E-ebook.pdf. While one might wonder why such a provision is even necessary, rules like this are essential, though not sufficient on their own. Who pays attention to prisons? Who would notice if the rules were not followed? U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan’s distressing observation from more than 35 years ago still rings true today:
Prisoners are persons whom most of us would rather not think about. Banished from everyday sight, they exist in a shadow world that only dimly enters our awareness.
O’Lone v. Estate of Shabazz, 482 U.S. 342, 354 (1987) (Brennan, J., dissenting) (Available online: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/482/342/).
One way to pursue human dignity in a carceral setting is through independent correctional oversight. Does anyone watch the watchers? If so, who and how? Another approach is to reimagine the built environment and operation of prisons. Must prisons be foreboding, fear-inducing structures? Must the interaction between staff and resident be adversarial and confrontational? If not, what should—and in some instances already has—taken its place?
Through empirical studies, policy papers and legal analysis, this Special Issue of Social Sciences will explore these questions and present the best answers from around the world. We are seeking papers that describe and evaluate innovative practices that pursue human dignity through prison oversight and reform.
Dr. Jordan Hyatt
Prof. Steven L. Chanenson
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- prison
- prison conditions
- oversight
- accountability
- integrity
- human dignity
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