The term imprisonment is not defined precisely, although generally spealcing, it is the deprivation of personal liberty of a person. Thus, According to the "Black's Law Dictionary", imprisonment connotes the act of being confined especially in prison. Secondly, it is the state of being confined; a period of confinement. 1
Prisons as a threat and reality have for the last two decades been used as a tool to remove offenders from society as a means of attempting to ensure that societal norms are adhered to. In theory, prison regimes are intended to guarantee justice,promote
rehabilitation and re-integrate in society and safeguard individual's rights and safety. However, prisons may also be used by the state authorities to perpetrate high-handed and tyrannical practices like torture, arbitrary killings, and other forms of ill treatment.
It must be emphasized that people are tal,en to prisons as a punishment and not to be punished.2Subjecting them to abhon-ent conditions and other forms of ill treatment are violations of their rights and freedoms far and above the denial of the right to liberty which is the only right that is lawfully taken away by imprisonment.
