Basic Corrections Officer Certification Practice 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The key outcome of Turner v. Safley was that it affirmed limits on inmates' constitutional rights. In this landmark case decided by the Supreme Court in 1987, the justices examined the balance between the constitutional rights of inmates and the interests of prison security and management. The decision established that while inmates do retain certain rights under the First Amendment, those rights could be limited if the restrictions were reasonably related to legitimate penological interests, such as security, rehabilitation, or maintaining order within the prison.

This ruling created a standard known as the Turner Test, which requires courts to evaluate whether a prison regulation is valid by considering factors such as the rational relation to a legitimate governmental interest, the availability of alternative means for inmates to exercise their rights, the impact of the accommodation on prison resources and staff, and whether there are ready alternatives to the regulation. This outcome effectively upheld the notion that inmates do not have the same level of rights as free citizens, particularly when it comes to maintaining order and safety within correctional facilities.