Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

October 31, 2019

USA: prison strip searches are not only inhumane—they cost taxpayers $300 million

News

North America United States

In addition to being inhumane, strip searches are expensive and waste a ton of taxpayer money. They are also disproportionately ineffective, according to research.

October 31, 2019

USA: moving from prison to a PhD

News

North America United States

Nature spoke to three US researchers who have built academic careers after they were released.

October 31, 2019

Uruguay: rethinking the prison system

Interview

South America Uruguay

It was a risky gamble that paid off for Luis Parodi, director for seven years now of Unit 6 of the Punta de Rieles prison in Montevideo. According to him, “Prison denies debate, and consequently denies life. There are absurd orders all the time.” This unit, which aims to resemble the outside world,…

October 31, 2019

United States of America: fighting through the noise

Testimonial

North America Long-term prisoners Justice United States

Kyle H. has been incarcerated since 2001 and is serving a life sentence.He tells Prison Insider how his days go by.

October 29, 2019

Syria: bursting at the seams: inside an IS prison

News

Middle East Syria

Hasakeh province (Syria) (AFP) - Behind the steel door, the cell is as packed as their eyes are empty – haggard, scrawny prisoners in orange jumpsuits lying head-to-toe cover every inch of floor space.

October 29, 2019

Syria: cómo es la prisión kurda donde están encerrados miles de terroristas del Estado Islámico

News

Middle East Discipline Material conditions Protest Religion Syria

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish

October 27, 2019

USA: prisons are not the answer to preventing crime

News

North America United States

Each day in the United States and Canada, it seems like the news media reports another shooting or act of violence that ends in tragedy. As a result, politicians and the public often leap to the conclusion that violence is on the rise and that the answer is to throw more people behind bars.

October 27, 2019

Jamaica: inmate takes action against state out of fear of going blind

News

Jamaica

Former district constable and garage operator, 67-year-old Linton Berry, is crying for help from prison as he fears losing his sight because of the lack of a proper diet and medication for his diabetes.

October 24, 2019

Belgium: “complete failure” of the section for radicalised prisoners

Interview

Crises Europe Belgium

Belgium was condemned on 24 April 2019 and will have to compensate several prisoners in the De-Radex section of the Ittre prison. Prisoners suspected to be recruiting members for jihadist organisations are isolated in these sections. Nicolas Cohen is a lawyer at the Brussels Bar and a member of the…

October 23, 2019

DRC : grève suspendue à la prison centrale de Bukavu

News

Africa Congo - Kinshasa

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

October 23, 2019

Yemen: detainees start hunger strike in UAE prison in Aden

News

Middle East Yemen

Detainees have started a hunger strike at a UAE prison in the Yemeni city of Aden, in protest against their non-release despite obtaining a previous decision on the matter.

October 23, 2019

USA: Alabama criminal justice panel gets look inside Holman prison

News

North America United States

A group appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to help solve Alabama’s prison problems toured Holman Correctional Facility today, a prime example of the state’s crowded, understaffed, and violent prisons.

October 22, 2019

France: seize détenus et ex-détenus demandent une expertise de l'état de la prison de Varces

News

Europe France

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

October 22, 2019

DRC: “Prison teaches looking backwards”

Testimonial

Africa Justice Congo - Kinshasa

“In some buildings, 80 prisoners are packed into 30m².” Mwana is currently serving his 19th year of incarceration. He speaks out.

October 22, 2019

India: death in prison increased by 5.49 % in 2017 against 2015

News

Asia India

The number of unnatural deaths in prisons has increased by 15.7 per cent from 115 in 2015 to 133 in 2017.

October 22, 2019

France : l'Occitanie, triste championne de la surpopulation carcérale

News

Europe Overcrowding France

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

October 22, 2019

UK: ageing prison population "sees officers working as carers"

News

Europe United Kingdom

The ageing jail population has left prison officers providing care for a growing number of older inmates “dying in front of them”, officers have said.

October 22, 2019

USA: N.J. must do more to help people after they leave prison, new report says

News

North America United States

The group, formed last year by the Legislature and co-chaired by former Gov. Jim McGreevey, recommended 100 changes to New Jersey’s criminal justice system to ease the path out of prison.

October 21, 2019

Uruguay: Punta de Rieles, la prison des hommes libres

News

South America Uruguay

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

October 21, 2019

France : premier bilan du programme Pairs

News

Europe France

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

October 21, 2019

Haiti : dicey prison conditions made worse by crisis

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Haiti

Port-au-Prince (AFP) - With protests rocking the streets, some prison authorities in Haiti have confined inmates to cells that lack showers or toilets, in a country where most detainees are stuck awaiting trial for months or even years.

October 17, 2019

RDC : le personnel de la prison de Bukavu dénonce les conditions de détention

News

Africa Material conditions Congo - Kinshasa

This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French

October 17, 2019

Cameroon: "Some of the people sentenced to death go crazy"

Testimonial

Africa Death penalty Violence Cameroon

A team of lawyers met 37 inmates who were sentenced to death and are being held in various Cameroonian prisons. Excerpts.

October 17, 2019

United States of America: an average day at the joint

Testimonial

North America United States

Qwantay has been incarcerated for 16 years and will be released in 2034. He describes what a day in prison is like.