Curran, Liz2016-01-212016-01-211037-969Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/95608The removal of a person’s liberty by detaining them in the prison system is one of the most coercive powers that the state can exercise over a human being. Over the centuries the common law has prescribed certain limitations on the state’s powers to do so. In addition, under international human rights law there are certain human rights standards which the Australian government has agreed to uphold, by virtue of having signed and ratified particular human rights conventions.© 2008 Alternative Law Journal.