Prisoners' Rights

Prisons traditionally have strictly regulated the appearance of prisoners. In situations where prisoners have complained that they were denied opportunities to shower or shave, courts have insisted on minimum standards of human decency and personal hygiene. When necessary, courts have allowed prisons to force inmates to

Jesse Jackson leads inmates in prayer during a February 1997 visit to Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois. Prisoners have the right to practice their religion while incarcerated.
AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

keep themselves clean for purposes of maintaining the health of the general prison population.