Initial book chapters look at the history and structure of the English prison system and at court sentencing (suspended, partially suspended, extended, and life sentences and the death penalty). Other chapters survey prisoner rights specified in the 1688 Bill of Rights, the Prison Act of 1952, and the Prison Rules of 1964. Prisoner rights are examined in relation to accommodation, segregation and special treatment, painful tests, sentence calculation, safe premises, protection from other prisoners, racial discrimination, free access to the courts and a fair disciplinary system, and damages for personality change leading to imprisonment. A chapter on prisoner classification discusses prisoners on remand, female prisoners, youth in custody, appellants and prisoners awaiting sentence, political prisoners, offenders incarcerated for contempt, civil prisoners, military prisoners, and mentally disordered inmates. Subsequent chapters focus on the daily regime in prison, contact with the outside world, discipline, transfer and release, and the effect of an imprisonment sentence on life outside. Appendixes contain England's Prison Rules of 1964, as amended, and the European Prison Rules of 1987. Tables of cases and statutes and an index are included.