The most important lesson for a prison system is that all mechanisms for maintaining contact will be more easily applied if the prison system is organized so that prisoners can be kept in institutions close to home. Any contact with the outside world is likely to raise some security considerations. It is important, therefore, to find ways in which appropriate levels of contact can be maintained without jeopardizing security. This will usually be possible, provided that staff understand that both security and contact with the outside world are equally important elements in their difficult task. Prison authorities should consider the consequences for relationships between the prisoner and his or her family before imposing any disciplinary punishment which would restrict family contact. The basic right to family contact should not be removed. The implication of this is that deprivation of the right to send and receive letters should not form part of a disciplinary punishment. Similarly, the right to receive visits should not be removed. If the disciplinary offence committed related in some way to visits, for example receiving drugs, the authorities may limit the conditions in which visits can be received. It is generally accepted that home leave and temporary conditional release are privileges which can be forfeited if the prisoner breaks prison rules or regulations. 117