38. (1) Prisoners who are foreign nationals shall be allowed reasonable facilities to communicate with the diplomatic and consular representatives of the State to which they belong. (2) Prisoners who are nationals of States without diplomatic or consular representation in the country and refugees or stateless persons shall be allowed similar facilities to communicate with the diplomatic representative of the State which takes charge of their interests or any national or international authority whose task it is to protect such persons. 39. Prisoners shall be kept informed regularly of the more important items of news by the reading of newspapers, periodicals or special institutional publications, by hearing wireless transmissions, by lectures or by any similar means as authorized or controlled by the administration.… 79. Special attention shall be paid to the maintenance and improvement of such relations between a prisoner and his family as are desirable in the best interests of both. IMPLICATIONS Imprisonment will often break up family relationships and break down links with the community. If men and women can maintain links with family, friends and the community while in prison, this will reduce the harmful effects of imprisonment and make it more likely that they will be reintegrated into the community when they are released. It is in everyone's best interests to help maintain such contact: - Prisoners will be able to take more responsibility for their own behaviour, as well as their domestic affairs, and prepare themselves for release. - Prison staff will have a more varied and satisfying job and a less anxious prison population in their care. - Prisoners' families will be able to give and receive valuable support, both immediately and later, instead of progressively losing touch. - The community will be less likely to suffer further crimes if prisoners retain their family links and if plans for what they will do when they leave prison are developed in advance. Mothers who are in prison have special needs as regards contact with their families. The rights of the children of such mothers must always be kept in mind. Family contact is especially important for young prisoners. There are five basic mechanisms for maintaining contact with the outside world: - Letters; - Visits; - Telephone; - Home leave or temporary conditional release; - Books, newspapers and broadcast media. 116