Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 1, 2018

UK: prison reform is long overdue. Let's invest in communities instead

News

United Kingdom

The number of people sent to prison in England and Wales has more than doubled at a terrible cost to taxpayers and society.

February 25, 2018

UK: why we should teach philosophy to prisoners (Kirstine Szifris)

News

United Kingdom

“I taught philosophy to prisoners, and I know it can help end the damaging macho prison culture” As with other forms of educational experience, in the classroom they could be – for a short time – philosophers as opposed to offenders or prisoners.

February 8, 2018

Au Royaume-Uni, les entreprises privées assurant des services publics se portent mal

News

Europe United Kingdom

This article is not available in English. If you wish, you can consult the French version.

January 31, 2018

UK: probation Prisoner stabbed to death at Wormwood Scrubs in London

News

United Kingdom

Incident follows concerns over high levels of violence at prison including attacks on staff.

January 31, 2018

UK: collapsed trial woman says she gave birth "alone" in prison

News

United Kingdom

A woman held in custody for more than 13 months before her trial collapsed has told the BBC she hopes someone will be punished for the failures which led to her giving birth in prison.

January 23, 2018

UK: Female prison inmates subject to "excessive strip-searching" despite many being victims of sexual abuse

News

Women United Kingdom

Campaigners call for policy of routine strip searching to be revised as “matter of urgency” after prison watchdog finds “disappointingly” high use of practice on women.

January 19, 2018

UK: How Liverpool prison became UK's 'worst jail'

News

United Kingdom

The damning report on Liverpool prison by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, published on Friday, says conditions in the establishment are “squalid”. But this is just the latest in a series of major problems faced by the jail.

January 15, 2018

UK : Woman jailed for setting bed on fire 'killed herself in prison'

News

United Kingdom

Inquest hears Emily Hartley, 21, who had mental health problems, had been sentenced for breaking bail conditions.

December 31, 2017

UK: ‘prison works’ is an outdated concept that benefits no one

News

United Kingdom

The best community penalties reduce reoffending rates via repentance and payback.

December 28, 2017

UK: one in five female prisoners are homeless after release, data shows

News

Topic Women United Kingdom

Labour attacks ‘shocking’ failure of privatised probation companies after proportion doubles in a year.

December 19, 2017

UK: conditions at Liverpool prison the worst ever inspected, says report

News

Material conditions United Kingdom

Inspectors describe ‘squalid’ state of jail including rat and cockroach infestations and damp cells with exposed wiring.

December 19, 2017

Smoking ban cannot be enforced in jails, UK supreme court rules

News

Justice United Kingdom

Inmate loses attempt to enforce ban in prisons after court says crown premises are exempt.

December 6, 2017

UK: teaching in a prison, education has the best chance of turning lives around

News

United Kingdom

Emily Dewar-Langridge teaches young offenders at Feltham prison, and has won an award for the difference she’s made to students. Here, she explains her role.

December 1, 2017

UK : Edmund Clark’s immersive study of prison life goes on show at the Ikon Gallery

News

United Kingdom

“We are a faceless, forgotten part of society,” says one of the inmates at HMP Grendon, where Edmund Clark has been artist-in-residence for the last three years; his work at the prison is now going on show in Birmingham.

November 27, 2017

UK: defendants with mental health issues 'neglected' in England and Wales

News

Health Mental health United Kingdom

Report by Justice suggests introduction of specialist prosecutors and a change to the defence of insanity.

November 2, 2017

UK: up to 100 prisoners on short sentences to be given right to vote

News

United Kingdom

Change in rules will apply to offenders out on temporary release licence and aims to end 12-year dispute with Strasbourg court.

October 22, 2017

UK: prison officers to get body-worn cameras in £3m jail safety boost

News

United Kingdom

Officers welcome MoJ’s new measures for England and Wales, including trial of incapacitant spray, but say nothing can replace correct staffing levels.

October 19, 2017

UK: HMP Winchester inmate who died had asked staff about suicide methods

News

Suicide United Kingdom

Sean Plumstead’s remarks to staff member – who had not had compulsory self-harm training – were not reported, inquest hears.

October 12, 2017

UK: four dead in four weeks at Nottingham prison

News

United Kingdom

Four inmates have died at Nottingham Prison in the past four weeks, the BBC has learned.

October 11, 2017

UK: inadequate stats on mental health are failing prisoners

News

Health Mental health United Kingdom

The last reliable data on prevalence of offender mental health problems is from 1998, when the prison population was about half what it is today.

September 21, 2017

UK: from war and slavery to prison – life inside an immigration detention centre

News

United Kingdom

David spent five years locked in a house in Britain. Then he spent two years in immigration detention centres.

September 20, 2017

Prison stories // Andrew Aitchison

Portfolio

Europe Material conditions Social ties Work United Kingdom

The everyday lives of inmates, guards and visitors.

August 23, 2017

UK: Stafford prison report reveals oldest inmate is over 100

News

United Kingdom

AROUND 40 inmates at Stafford Prison are being held past their release date, an annual report has revealed. The affected prisoners are being held on Indefinite Protection of the Public (IPP) status, which applied to around 50 inmates – 6.7 per cent of the Stafford Prison population – the Independen…

August 18, 2017

UK: violence, debt and lockdowns

News

Violence United Kingdom

It is the powder wreaking havoc inside Teesside’s biggest prison. Spice has been blamed for Holme House Prison wardens “dropping like flies” after inhaling it. A 5.6kg smuggled spice stash - worth an estimated £200,000 - was found in cells last month, stuffed in cappuccino, Oats-so-Simple and Weeta…