Do inmates on death row have any rights?

Each state has its own policy regarding visitation for death row prisoners. In general, prison officials have wide latitude to craft policies, including visitation policies, that maintain institutional security and inmate discipline. Inmates sentenced to death are housed at the highest security prison in the Department of Correction They may be held in different facilities than inmates with life without parole. Death row inmates are subject to more restrictions than inmates sentenced to life without parole including: 1. death row inmates are held in single cells while life without parole inmates are in double celled housing, 2. death row inmates have two hours of recreation outside of their cells six days a week and are always by themselves while life without parole inmates are usually outside their cells six to seven hours a day and can be with other inmates, 3. both types of inmates have access to the commissary but death row inmates face more restrictions on the types of property they can have, 4. death row inmates eat meals alone in their cells while life without parole inmates eat in their cells or in a chow hall or day room, 5. both types of inmates have access to programs and services but fewer programs are available than at other prisons, 6. death row inmates may have work assignments that are restricted to the death row housing unit while life without parole inmates have more opportunities including industry jobs, and 7. death row inmates are allowed up to three non-contact visits per week that are limited to one hour each while life without parole inmates may qualify for contact visits and are usually allowed at least two visits per week of at least one hour. In addition, the directives require death row inmate to be escorted by at least one staff person and are placed in restraints when moving outside their cell. Directives do not specify these procedures for inmates sentenced to life without parole.