Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 9, 2022

Senegal: out of step, outlawed

Interview

Africa LGBTQI Justice Material conditions Violence Senegal

A new bill is looking to toughen punishment for homosexuality. There are serious concerns about detention conditions for LGBTI people. Interview.

March 9, 2022

Nigeria: the rocky road towards abolition

Interview

Africa Justice Death penalty Nigeria

While its neighbouring countries move towards the abolition of capital punishment, Nigeria is one of the last sub-Saharan African nations to still apply the death penalty.

March 9, 2022

Japan: “It is about politics, fear and power”

Interview

Asia Access to legal rights Justice Material conditions Death penalty Japan

Death penalty is an ongoing issue despite international criticism. What is the current situation in Japan regarding the death penalty?

March 7, 2022

Switzerland: the role of forensic psychiatric expertise

Interview

Europe Access to legal rights Justice Health Mental health Switzerland

Psychiatric expertise has grown in the last few years, especially in assessing recidivism risk. Can risk really be predicted? Interview.

February 24, 2022

Tailandia: Liberan bajo fianza a una figura del movimiento prodemocracia

News

Asia Justice Thailand

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

February 24, 2022

Ukraine: The prison population should be included in evacuation plans

News

Europe Justice Health Violence Ukraine

A Ukrainian organisation defending human rights shares its concerns regarding the situation of prisoners.

February 9, 2022

Nicaragua : deux figures de l’opposition condamnées pour « conspiration »

News

Central America and the Caribbean Justice Nicaragua

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

February 9, 2022

France: poor prisons

Interview

Europe Justice Material conditions Work France

How does prison contribute to poverty? Emmaus France and the Catholic Relief Services (le Secours Catholique) have published a report on the issue. It includes 25 recommendations to help improve the situation.

January 12, 2022

Mexico: Torture feeds corruption

Interview

North America Justice Torture Violence Mexico

The use of torture is very common in Mexican prisons and few procedures exist for repairing the damage caused to the victims. The Mexican League for the Defense of Human Rights is taking steps to resolve this situation. Interview.

January 10, 2022

Spain: 2021, a year of high-profile crimes and convictions

News

Europe Justice Spain

Judges handed down prison sentences against the perpetrators of murders that shocked the nation, such as the killing of the schoolteacher Laura Luelmo.

January 3, 2022

Au Sénégal, des députés veulent durcir les sanctions contre l’homosexualité

News

Africa LGBTQI Justice Senegal

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

December 22, 2021

Danemark : Pourquoi le pays veut envoyer 300 détenus dans une prison du Kosovo

News

Europe Justice Overcrowding Denmark

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

December 21, 2021

Le Japon exécute des condamnés à mort, pour la première fois depuis 2019

News

Asia Justice Death penalty Japan

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

December 15, 2021

Singapore: days ahead to die

Interview

Asia Justice Drugs Death penalty Singapore

The city-state is a strong supporter of the death penalty. Death sentences are regularly handed down for drug-related offences, as witnessed in neighbouring countries. Is abolition on the horizon?

December 7, 2021

El Salvador: violation of woman's rights who had abortion and died in prison, court rules

News

Central America and the Caribbean Women Justice El Salvador

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that El Salvador had violated the rights of a woman who was sent to prison for breaching the country’s tough abortion laws and died while serving her 30-year sentence.

December 2, 2021

France: place for security

Interview

Europe Justice Material conditions Overcrowding France

The increase in resources allocated to the prison administration is mainly focused on creating new prison places, to the detriment of reintegration. Organisations are outraged by this.

November 18, 2021

Japon : des condamnés à mort poursuivent le gouvernement en justice

News

Asia Justice Death penalty Japan

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

October 26, 2021

Myanmar: 120 political prisoners released from Dawei Prison

News

Asia Justice Myanmar (Burma)

A member of the Dawei District Strike Committee told Mizzima that about 120 detainees arrested by the military council, including Ko Kyaw Htwe, Dawei District Strike Committee member, have been released from Dawei Prison.

October 26, 2021

Ghana : un projet de loi menace de prison les homosexuels

News

Africa LGBTQI Justice Ghana

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

October 15, 2021

Europe: questioning the use of pre-trial detention

Coronavirus Pre-trial detention Europe Justice

Laure Baudrihaye-Gérard, European legal director of Fair Trials, and Diana Riba i Giner MEP (Greens/EFA), discuss the potential normalisation of digital hearings in the wake of the pandemic, and the over-use of pre-trial detention.

October 15, 2021

Latin America: pre-trial detention and access to justice

Central America and the Caribbean Pre-trial detention South America Women Access to legal rights Justice

A discussion about rights under threat and the consequences for women, people of colour, and marginalised groups, with Isabel Roby, legal and policy officer, Fair Trials (Latin America) and Hugo Leonardo, president of the Brazilian defence lawyers’ network.

October 15, 2021

South Africa: criminalizing poverty and homelessness

Africa Access to legal rights Justice Material conditions South Africa

Derrick Thulani Ndlovu discusses South Africa’s justice system and prison conditions with Danielle Louw, of Ndifuna Ukwazi (‘Dare to know’), a social justice activism group based in Cape Town.

October 15, 2021

The use of imprisonment around the world

Analysis Thematic paper

Justice

The Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research led a comparative research and policy project to understand the causes and consequences of over-incarceration worldwide. They partnered with Prison Insider to shed light on aspects of prisoners’ experience before and during the COVID-19.

September 27, 2021

Venezuela : L’ONU accuse le système judiciaire de violations des droits de l’homme

News

South America Justice Torture Violence Venezuela

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