There are many contemporary issues in corrections that are topics of ongoing debates in fields of penology, criminology, and corrections administration. Some of the cases regarding these issues have made it to the Supreme Court, and others have not. In this assignment, the members of your group will research the following issues in corrections today and provide information on the viewpoints from the different sides of the debate. The issues are as follows:

Religious meals

For your assigned contemporary corrections issue, answer the following:

1. What court cases involved this issue?
2. What were the decisions of the lower courts?
3. Did any of the cases make it to the Supreme Court?
4. If so, what was the Supreme Court decision?
5. If not, is the case still active? Explain.
6. What is the general opinion that society seems to have with regard to this issue?
7. Have any organizations opposed to the court decisions made progress with regard to prisoners' rights?
8. How do you foresee the outcome of the debate regarding the issue?

In 4-6 paragraphs

You have been asked to write a presentation for your local legislative body on postconviction DNA testing. Prisoners and various civil rights groups have lobbied for prisoners to have access to DNA testing to prove their innocence. Some states have been supportive of this trend, whereas others have not. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that a prisoner does not have a right to a DNA test. Should prisoners have a right to DNA testing after they have been convicted?

Assignment Guidelines:

Research DNA testing with regard to corrections and prisoners' rights.
In 4-6 paragraphs, address the following:

• According to the U.S. Supreme court, prisoners do not have the right to DNA testing. Do you believe that this is the right decision?
• If yes, then what restrictions do you feel should be put into place regarding DNA testing requests?
• If no, then what about the inmates who are innocent and their wrongful convictions?
• If a prisoner DNA test proves that a prisoner has been wrongfully convicted, then should the prisoner be compensated?
• To what extent do you feel it is necessary to compensate wrongfully convicted prisoners?