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Constitutionally speaking, inmates enjoy the exact same rights as anyone else unless specifically limited; and there also exist a variety of statutory ways in w

Constitutionally speaking, inmates enjoy the exact same rights as anyone else unless specifically limited; and there also exist a variety of statutory ways in which inmates are entitled to certain things the general populace are not (most notably medical care and housing, which are not generally entitlements to citizens or non-citizen residents of the country.) I have no idea if there is a reason to believe that South Carolina should save inmates first (or last, or...) in a natural disaster.

tathougies 8y ago
The constitution does not grant rights. The entitlements you mentioned are not rights, they are the bare minimum necessary to not violate the constitutional requirement that prisoners not be subject to cruel and unusual punishments, which is one of the few rights guaranteed to those convicted of a crime. Americans are constitutionally protected from the government inhibiting their right to free speech, liberty, etc, but the government only has to abide by this if those Americans have not been convicted of a crime. This is clearly stated in the 14th amendment where it is pointed out the government can infringe upon rights by due process of law. For example, criminals do not enjoy the same protection from violations of their right to free speech. Seeing as the other residents of the county are not being asked to evacuate, it seems a real stretch to claim that the prisoners are being subject to cruel and unusual punishment. The commenter above claimed prisoners ought to be rescued first. However, that doesn't really seem necessary. They should be treated at best like anyone else, because the main charge is that they not be cruelly or unusually punished, and being treated the same in an emergency like a non-prisoner is hardly cruel or unusual.
- jackvalentine 8y ago
  > The commenter above claimed prisoners ought to be rescued first. I think it's implied that they should be evacuated first _in the event evacuation is needed_.

tathougies 8y ago

The constitution does not grant rights. The entitlements you mentioned are not rights, they are the bare minimum necessary to not violate the constitutional requirement that prisoners not be subject to cruel and unusual punishments, which is one of the few rights guaranteed to those convicted of a crime. Americans are constitutionally protected from the government inhibiting their right to free speech, liberty, etc, but the government only has to abide by this if those Americans have not been convicted of a crime. This is clearly stated in the 14th amendment where it is pointed out the government can infringe upon rights by due process of law. For example, criminals do not enjoy the same protection from violations of their right to free speech. Seeing as the other residents of the county are not being asked to evacuate, it seems a real stretch to claim that the prisoners are being subject to cruel and unusual punishment. The commenter above claimed prisoners ought to be rescued first. However, that doesn't really seem necessary. They should be treated at best like anyone else, because the main charge is that they not be cruelly or unusually punished, and being treated the same in an emergency like a non-prisoner is hardly cruel or unusual.

jackvalentine 8y ago
> The commenter above claimed prisoners ought to be rescued first. I think it's implied that they should be evacuated first _in the event evacuation is needed_.