Cutter wrote on Oct 16, 2012, 01:40:
The state really has no other obligation than to ensure you have basic food, clothing and shelter. And they also are not permitted to engage in cruel and unusual punishment. Not getting ANY kind of mail, visitors, etc does not fall under that codicil. In fact the state doesn't have to grant you access to visitors or anything else for that matter.

Personally I'd go so far as to say I'd prefer a gulag style system for habitual criminals and really bad guys. Don't work? Don't eat. Granted there's a ton of people in prison who shouldn't be there, but there's also plenty who are worse than animals and deserve no consideration. They're a waste of valuable resources.