The trial of UNITED NATIONS-4

Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (contd.)

Let us go to Rule 7.REGISTER

7(1) Rule 7(1) reads: "In every place where persons are imprisoned, there shall be kept a bound registration book with numbered pages in which shall be entered in respect of each prisoner received:

1. Information concerning his identity;
   
2. The reasons for his commitment and the authority therefore;
   
3. The day and hour of his admission and release.
   

   (2) No person shall be received in an institution without a valid commitment order of which the details shall have been previously entered in the register".
   

   In Rule 7(1),the words "imprisoned ,prisoner" used will pain a lot all people housed in the Centre of Personality Development. No one likes to be called a "prisoner" whatever may be the justification the U.N. has to brand him so. He is, no doubt, imprisoned and he has the aching thoughts in him and to subject him further and more by calling him a "prisoner" is like adding insult to injury and therefore quite unwarranted and is counterproductive for his personality development. Hence, amend the Rule as suggested below:
   

   In every Centre of Personality Development where persons are housed,there shall be kept a bound registration book with numbered pages in which shall be entered in respect of each person received:
   

   1. Information concerning his identity;
      
   2. The reasons for his commitment and the authority therefore;
      
   3. The day and hour of his admission and release.
      

      (2)No person shall be received in a Centre without a valid commitment order of which the details shall have been previously entered in the Register.
      

      SEPARATION OF CATEGORIES
      

      The word "prisoner" used throughout the text repeatedly does affect the dignity of the person in the individual and in all fairness, respecting the human rights, the expression should be wiped off and buried for ever. Some scholars in correctional administration call them "INMATES" whereas some others address them as "RESIDENTS" of a correctional institution. The concepts like "SINNER" and "SAINTS" overpower the so-named correctional institutions throughout the world. In other words, the inmates housed there are "SINNERS" and those who manage the affairs of the institution are "SAINTS".I am not inclined to call prisons as correctional institutions as some scholars do as I think that the so-called "SAINTS" can have no claim to address themselves as officials intended for correcting the "SINNERS" therein. I disfavor the calling of "Correctional Institutions" for jails. I prefer to call them, as pointed out earlier, Centers of Personality Development. Let the officials too develop their personality just like the inmates do. I have no difficulty to call them "INMATES or RESIDENTS" of a Centre of Personality Development.(to be contd.)