Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

October 14, 2021

France: seen in the press / 2021

News

Europe France

Violence, acts of protest, prison conditions, justice reforms: find out what is new about prisons and justice in this country. Prison Insider monitors the press on a regular basis.

October 13, 2021

Lithuania: converting prison into migrant reception centre

News

Europe Facilities Lithuania

With only a few weeks’ notice, the Lithuanian border guard service has turned a large prison in the southwest of the country into the country’s biggest migrant centre.

October 12, 2021

Russie : un lanceur d’alerte dénonce un système de viols organisés en prison

News

Europe Torture Violence Russia

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

October 11, 2021

A very disturbing situation

Interview

Africa Europe Middle East Torture Violence

The torture and abuse of prisoners have become commonplace over the years. How did these excesses come about? A recently published report takes up this topic.

October 7, 2021

Global Prison Trends 2021

Report

Africa Coronavirus Women Asia Europe Minors Middle East Oceania Health Material conditions Overcrowding Death penalty

More than eleven million people are imprisoned around the world. Of this number, 70% are awaiting trial, a percentage that has been continuously increasing since 2000.

September 28, 2021

Malta: when it comes to prison, the statistics are very telling

News

Europe Material conditions Overcrowding Malta

Statistics are very telling. In Malta the rate of recidivism (people who commit crimes upon release and end up in prison again) is at around 70 per cent, if not more.

September 27, 2021

Global prison crisis

Interview

Africa Coronavirus Crises Asia Europe Middle East Oceania Overcrowding

The world prison population is still increasing. How does the COVID-19 crisis differ from other ongoing or future crises? Are prison environments doomed to be in perpetual crisis?

September 27, 2021

Belgium: a parent in prison

Interview

Europe Social ties Belgium

The Relais Enfants-Parents (REP) association works to maintain the relationship between a child and their imprisoned parent. How does this mediation take place? Does it allow for in-person visits? Interview.

September 27, 2021

Belgium: regular crisis and health crisis

Interview

Coronavirus Crises Europe Health Overcrowding Belgium

Belgian prisons, already criticised for their dilapidation and incarceration conditions, have been closed off since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. What measures have been taken to deal with the health crisis?

September 23, 2021

Suisse : Anne-Catherine Menétrey-Savary, «Ce qui me révolte le plus, c'est l'enfermement sans limite et sans perspective»

Europe Switzerland

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

September 16, 2021

España : el último insumiso civil entra en prisión

News

Europe Spain

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

September 9, 2021

Belgium: “prison isn’t a place for care”

Interview

Europe Mental health Belgium

Incarcerated people are often in worse physical and mental health than the general population. I.Care has been visiting prisons since 2015.

September 7, 2021

France: a deceptive protection

Interview

Women Europe Justice Violence France

The proliferation of surveillance systems and an increased reliance on incarceration are meant to curb violence. But what are the implications of this kind of security? Françoise Vergès is a feminist, anti-racist author. Her most recent work, entitled Une théorie féministe de la violence. Pour une…

August 5, 2021

North Macedonia: cramped prison conditions, detainee ill treatment and opaque prison management among longstanding concerns for anti-torture committee

News

Europe Torture Violence North Macedonia

Despite minor improvements including the renovation of one wing of the remand section of Skopje Prison and the closure of three problematic wings of Idrizovo Prison, most longstanding concerns with respect to living conditions in prisons persist, concludes the latest report on North Macedonia publi…

July 27, 2021

España: la violencia de género, tercera causa de ingreso en prisión

News

Women Europe Violence Spain

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

July 15, 2021

Malta: Prime minister has full faith In prison director after inmate’s death

News

Europe Health Mental health Drugs Malta

Prime Minister Robert Abela insists he has full faith in Prison Director Alex Dalli in the wake of yet another death inside the Corradino Correctional Facility.

July 1, 2021

Italia: Italia investigará sus cárceles tras la difusión de un vídeo que exhibe las palizas de oficiales a los presos

News

Europe Torture Violence Italy

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

July 1, 2021

España: la Comunitat tendrá el mayor psiquiátrico penitenciario de España, con 500 internos

News

Europe Mental health Material conditions Facilities Spain

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

June 29, 2021

Italia: 52 warders arrested over prison lockdown violence

News

Coronavirus Europe Protest Torture Italy

Italian police on Monday arrested 52 prison officers on suspicion of mistreating prisoners in quelling a riot sparked by a case of COVID-19 among inmates in the middle of the first virus lockdown last year. Naples police sent in special penitentiary police forces after the April 6 riot at the jail…

June 15, 2021

England and Wales: short prison sentences, directions for future reform

Analysis Opinion

Europe Long-term prisoners Justice Overcrowding Social ties Rehabilitation United Kingdom

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project ‘Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries’. Helen Mills discusses the vexed problem of short prison sentences.

June 14, 2021

Life imprisonment: a sentence in dire need of reform

Analysis Opinion

Africa Asia Elderly prisoners Europe Oceania Long-term prisoners Justice Health Mental health Drugs Overcrowding

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project ‘Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries’. In this piece, Olivia Rope, Executive Director of Penal Reform International (PRI), discusses life sentences, a key p…

June 10, 2021

Considering penal abolitionism

Interview

North America Europe Discipline Justice Alternatives

The abolitionist movement is not well-known in France. Three texts, recently translated into French, have been assembled into one book on the subject.

June 10, 2021

Turkey: seen in the press / 2021

News

Europe Turkey

Violence, acts of protest, prison conditions, justice reforms: find out what is new about prisons and justice in this country. Prison Insider monitors the press on a regular basis.

June 10, 2021

Malta: Faculty for Social Wellbeing dean calls for end to solitary confinement in Malta’s prison

News

Europe Mental health Material conditions Rehabilitation Malta

A position paper issued by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing argues solitary confinement leads to worsening rates of recidivism