C. Conditions in Prisons 5.9 As per the PHRA, one of the functions of the Commission is to visit jails under the control of the State Governments where persons are detained or lodged for purposes of treatment, reformation or protection, so as to assess the living conditions prevalent therein and make recommendations thereon to the Government. 5.10 The Commission has repeatedly emphasized that human rights of prisoners are inviolable and the fact of being detained or imprisoned does not take away their rights as human beings. They have been temporarily deprived — by due process of law — only of their liberty on account of their involvement in the commission of certain offences (alleged or proven, as the case may be). They are kept in prison not only to undergo punishment as a deterrent against crime, but also for reformation. 5.11 The Commission has always laid emphasis on total prohibition of torture or any kind of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. It also underlines that though the prisoner's right to family contact may be restricted by procedure established by law, it cannot be completely taken away. At the same time, it has also stressed that special consideration must be given to women prisoners. 5.12 Over the years, the Commission has issued several guidelines, made observations after conducting spot investigations and taken several other steps to improve the conditions in prisons so that prisoners can lead their lives with dignity and enjoy their rights even as they await judgement or complete their sentence. 5.13 In consonance with the functions elucidated under the PHRA, a Member, a Special Rapporteur and officers of the Commission visited jails in different parts of the country, during 2007-2008. Visit to Jails 5.14 A visit to the capital's high security Tihar Jail was undertaken on 14 June by a team from the Investigation Division of the Commission to probe into a string of deaths that took place there. The Commission had earlier issued a notice to the jail administration concerning the deaths of six inmates and a jail warden. Visit of a Member to Burail Model Jail in Chandigarh 5.15 A Member of the Commission visited the Burail Model Jail in Chandigarh on 27 March 2008 to examine the functioning of the jail and to study the human rights situation of the inmates. The Member made the following observations: 26 National Human Rights Commission