Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 31, 2021

Egypte : 16 personnes, dont au moins trois femmes, exécutés pour des faits de droit commun

News

Middle East Death penalty Violence Egypt

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

March 30, 2021

Venezuela: tragedia de Policarabobo, tres años de retardo procesal, frustración, dolor y sed de justicia

News

South America Access to legal rights Material conditions Facilities Protest Venezuela

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

March 30, 2021

Venezuela: se filtra video de agresiones a reclusos del Rodeo III por parte de custodios

News

South America Violence Venezuela

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

March 30, 2021

Brasil: Xuxa propuso que se prueben vacunas y medicamentos en presos “que al menos sirvan para algo”

News

Coronavirus South America Health Brazil

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

March 30, 2021

Venezuela: limitaciones de movilidad durante cuarentena radical impiden que familiares lleven alimentos a sus detenidos

News

Coronavirus South America Health Material conditions Social ties Venezuela

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

March 30, 2021

Líbano: torturas a personas refugiadas sirias detenidas arbitrariamente por cargos antiterroristas

News

Middle East Material conditions Torture Violence Lebanon

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

March 30, 2021

Inde : Covid et prison, la vie carcérale pour ces femmes oubliées de la pandémie

News

Coronavirus Women Asia Material conditions India

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

March 30, 2021

Suisse : la justice restaurative pourrait faire son entrée dans le Code de procédure pénale

News

Europe Justice Switzerland

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

March 29, 2021

Belgium: what is Haren ?

Interview

Europe Facilities Overcrowding Belgium

One billion euros have been invested in the construction of Haren, a massive prison complex located on the outskirts of Brussels.

March 26, 2021

Saudi Arabia: human rights activist Mohammed al-Rabiah brutally tortured and at risk of lengthy prison sentence

News

Middle East Long-term prisoners Torture Violence Saudi Arabia

ALQST has learned that human rights activist Mohammed al-Rabiah was subjected to brutal torture in detention, including beatings, electric shocks, and being hung upside down. He currently faces trial before the Specialised Criminal Court (SCC), where the Public Prosecution is calling for a 25-year…

March 23, 2021

India: Maharashtra prison dept starts vaccination for inmates at Arthur Road Jail

News

Coronavirus Asia India

Maharashtra prison department has started Covid-19 vaccination drive for the inmates at Arthur Road Jail or Mumbai Central Prison.

March 22, 2021

New Zealand: prison suicide attempt response suggests 'systemic issues'

News

Oceania Mental health Violence New Zealand

A leading advocate for prison reform says distressing findings of how an inmate was treated should lead to significant change within the criminal justice system.

March 22, 2021

COVID-19 pandemic exposes how little we know about prison conditions globally

News

Coronavirus North America South America Europe Material conditions

“The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons“, novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

March 22, 2021

North Korea: using prison labor to defy sanctions, rights group says

News

Asia Violence Work North Korea

North Korea has stepped up its use of forced labor from prison camps to mine coal for export so it can procure cash for its nuclear weapons program in defiance of United Nations sanctions, according to a human rights group.

March 22, 2021

Italy: “political action is powerless"

Interview

Coronavirus Europe Health Protest Overcrowding Italy

The second wave of the pandemic hit prisons with overwhelming force. What can the authorities do?

March 19, 2021

Haïti: un rapport évoque la complicité et le manque de gardiens dans l’évasion sanglante de février

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Protest Violence Haiti

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

March 19, 2021

Forgotten behind bars: Covid-19 and prisons

Report

Coronavirus Health Overcrowding

Amnesty International has released a new report, produced in collaboration with Prison Insider. The spread of COVID-19 in prisons and other detention facilities has thrown into stark relief systemic threats to health in detention such as overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions

March 18, 2021

Managing uncertainty in prison: diverse responses to COVID-19

Analysis Thematic paper

Africa Coronavirus Crises Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Europe Material conditions Social ties

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Argentina: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Material conditions Activities Social ties Argentina

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Argentinian authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Chile : Managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Health Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties Work Chile

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Chilean authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

France: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus Europe Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties France

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the French authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

New Zealand: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus Oceania Material conditions Activities Social ties Work New Zealand

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the New Zealand authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Costa Rica: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Material conditions Activities Social ties Costa Rica

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Costa Rican authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Thailand: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus Asia Health Material conditions Overcrowding Activities Social ties Work Thailand

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Thai authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?