For instance, a 1995 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, Sandini v. Connor , has significantly limited the ability of inmates to claim due process rights in the prison environment. The recently enacted Prison Litigation Reform Act expresses the concern of Congress and imposes substantial limitations on a prisoner's right to bring litigation and on the federal courts' ability to monitor prison management . Many states are also writing legislation to curb frivolous inmate lawsuits. This diversity is reflected in a wide variety of program offerings. Likewise, higher education, while having intrinsic value, would be less relevant to this population.
Flexibility is the best hedge against the future.
If populations become more long-term, programming must evolve accordingly. Corrections professionals will need to perfect the tenets of managing the long-term offender. If, indeed, community sanctions are imposed on non-violent offenders, prisons will increasingly become repositories for the more violent, predatory and remorseless criminals. A greater concentration of violent offenders may create more tension among inmates and between inmates and staff. Added incidents of violence can be anticipated, resulting in more injuries or worse, and a requirement for more disciplinary cells.