Jails, too, are not designed to allow female inmates - many of them single parents - to have comfortable visits with their children.

Many state prison systems allow inmates with good records to apply for short furloughs in the months before their release on parole.

Panamanian law also allows inmates aged over 70 to apply to serve their sentences under house arrest.

Allows terminally ill inmates who are no longer a threat to society to be paroled so they can die at home.

The programme allows inmates on good behaviour to spend time with their children in a "friendly environment".

Prison authorities are also exploring the option of allowing inmates to type out their letters and send them electronically.

Schmidt was accused of allowing inmates to die by withholding medical care.

Last year they had allowed inmates serving sentences for A-1 felonies to do that.

Lawyers are asking the Supreme Court to articulate the basic level of due process allowed inmates.

Allowing inmates these rights could result in worse behavior and issues of prison security.