Why is it that when we talk about diversity, we tend to exclude one important group - PRISONERS?
Prisoners remain on the outside. We, as future LIS professionals need to acknowledge and examine multiple meanings of diversity and how it relates to inclusion; this is particularly important to our examination of a group which has been physically segregated from the rest of society.
Within the prison community, diversity remains relevant. There is a wide range of differences in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity as well as mental and physical disabilities among the prison population. We cannot simply blur these identities into one definition.
The incarcerated remain citizens regardless of imprisonment. Should they not be entitled to human rights?
According to Correctional Services Canada, all "the human rights principles and obligations that Canada has subscribed to since the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted 50 years ago apply equally to the treatment of offenders, staff and others, whether it be in an institutional or a community setting."
Prisoners remain on the outside. We, as future LIS professionals need to acknowledge and examine multiple meanings of diversity and how it relates to inclusion; this is particularly important to our examination of a group which has been physically segregated from the rest of society.
Within the prison community, diversity remains relevant. There is a wide range of differences in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity as well as mental and physical disabilities among the prison population. We cannot simply blur these identities into one definition.
The incarcerated remain citizens regardless of imprisonment. Should they not be entitled to human rights?
According to Correctional Services Canada, all "the human rights principles and obligations that Canada has subscribed to since the Universal Declaration on Human Rights was adopted 50 years ago apply equally to the treatment of offenders, staff and others, whether it be in an institutional or a community setting."