19. Every prisoner shall, in accordance with local or national standards, be provided with a separate bed, and with separate and sufficient bedding which shall be clean when issued, kept in good order and changed often enough to ensure its cleanliness. … 26. (1) The medical officer shall regularly inspect and advise the director upon: … (d) The suitability and cleanliness of the prisoners' clothing and bedding; IMPLICATIONS In some countries, pre-trial prisoners are allowed to wear their own clothes and convicted prisoners are required to wear prison clothing. In some countries, all prisoners are required to wear prison clothing. In other countries, all prisoners with the exception of those in the highest security category are allowed to wear their own clothes. Whatever the arrangement, prisoners should have regular changes of personal clothing. Facilities should exist within or outside the prison for washing and drying prison clothes. If prisoners wear their own clothes their families should be allowed to provide regular changes. Prison clothing should not be degrading or humiliating. In some countries, the degree of prison overcrowding means that prisoners are required to share beds. Every effort should be made to avoid such a situation. The nature of the bed and bedding may vary according to local traditions. What is provided in prisons should be similar to what is used in the community. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS ■ In many countries, prisoners are able to wash their own clothing. In others there is a central laundry. If a prison does not have a laundry of its own, arrangements should be made with a local institution for laundering prisoners' personal clothing and bedding. An alternative is to allow prisoners' families to provide clean clothing. ■ It is the responsibility of the prison administration to provide individual sleeping facilities for every prisoner. In many cultures, this means a separate bed. In some cultures, it may mean providing a sleeping mat. ■ Each prisoner should be issued with a clean set of bedding on first admission and it should be washed at regular intervals, either by the prisoners themselves or by the appropriate prison staff. ■ If the prison authorities lack the resources to maintain necessary facilities, they might consider the possibility of help from local community groups. 57