Prisoners and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

All of us know the Declaration of Human Rights which was ratified by most countries in this world including the USA . But whom does it really apply to? Reading the news I sometimes believe that people don’t believe it really applies to everyone or for everyone…

Let me just quote some passages:

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 29.
(2) In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.

Especially reading article 29 (2) I would say the Universal Declaration of Human Rights applies to everyone – including prisoners as long as the rights and freedoms of others are not in danger.

Now let me tell you a few other things:

Maricopa County jails house inmates serving jail sentences, as well as pretrial detainees, who are legally innocent until proven guilty.

Sheriff JoeArpaio began to serve inmates surplus food (mainly outdated and oxidized green bologna) and limited meals to twice daily. Meal costs would be reduced to 30 cents per day.

Shortly after taking office, Arpaio reinstituted chain gangs, the controversial form of inmate labor which had been virtually eliminated in the United States.

The inmates wear traditional black-and-white striped uniforms and pink underwear. Arrpaio also introduced pink handcuffs. Later, Arpaio ordered that sheets, socks, towels, and other fabric items be dyed pink.

Arpaio's tent city jail has become notable particularly because of Phoenix 's extreme temperatures. Temperatures inside the tents have been reported as high as 150 degrees, which is sufficent to cause death or permanent disability in humans.

Amnesty International issued a report critical of the treatment of inmates in Maricopa County facilities. Criticism has resulted due to lawsuits filed against the sheriff’s office by family members of inmates who died in jail custody and in high-speed pursuits involving deputies.

From 2004 through November 2007, Arpaio was the target of a 2,150 lawsuits in U.S. District Court and hundreds more in Maricopa County courts; 50 times as many lawsuits as the New York , Los Angeles , Chicago , and Houston jail systems combined.

This year Arpaio has a good chance on getting re-elected for the 4th time.

I’m just wondering:

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”…. and on the other hand male inmates in pink underwear living in tents with temperatures as high as 150 degrees, getting rotten food to eat and being subject ot other degrading treatments (please follow links in text)….

How about one of our family members getting into prison (even if innocent)? Do we want him to be treated this way?

Does "being tough on crime" also mean for us to take an inmate's dignity and to put his health at risk?

Or do we all just believe that this will never happen to anyone we care about, that the people living there "deserve" what they go through and therefore this is just none of our business?

Is this really how we all believe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should be ratified? How about if other countries are taking the same freedom with the interpretation some parts of this declaration – do we really want to put this risk on our people when they travel abroad?