The functions of prisons are as follows:
1, the punishment function of prison refers to the sum of the psychological pain effects caused by the state putting the criminal's body and mind under the condition of punishment and restricting his spiritual and material life;
2. The reform function of prison refers to the sum of the educational effects of reforming criminals' criminal thoughts and cultivating them to abide by the law according to the purpose of punishment;
3. The defense function of a prison refers to the sum of the effects of preventing criminals from committing crimes again by executing penalties, and at the same time, warning, deterring and educating other people who may commit crimes in society so that they will not embark on the road of crime;
4. Special prevention means that the prison deprives the prisoner of his personal freedom by executing the penalty, making him isolated from the society and losing the conditions for committing crimes again, so as to prevent him from committing crimes again during his sentence;
5. General prevention means that the prison punishes criminals to deter those who have not committed crimes and prevent them from committing crimes.
Article 2 of the Prison Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) is that prisons are the organs of the state to execute punishments.
According to the provisions of the Criminal Law and the Criminal Procedure Law, criminals sentenced to death with a two-year suspension, life imprisonment or fixed-term imprisonment shall execute their sentences in prison.
Article 3 A prison shall implement the principle of combining punishment with reform and combining education with labor, and transform criminals into law-abiding citizens.
Article 4 A prison shall supervise prisoners according to law, organize prisoners to participate in productive labor and provide ideological, cultural and technical education to prisoners according to the needs of reforming prisoners.
Article 5 The activities of the prison people's police in managing prisons according to law, executing punishments and educating and reforming criminals are protected by law.
Article 53 The prison where prisoners live should be firm, ventilated, transparent, clean and warm.
Article 54 A prison shall set up medical institutions and sanitary facilities, and establish a sanitary system for prisoners. The medical care of criminals is included in the health and epidemic prevention plan of the prison area.