Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

May 5, 2017

Belarus: rapporteurs condemn execution of Siarhei Vostrykau in Belarus

News

Belarus

‘I deplore the recent execution of Siarhei Vostrykau and send my condolences to his family,’ said Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE), PACE rapporteur on the situation in Belarus. ‘This happens at a very delicate time. The Belarusian regime is trying to build good relations with our Assembly, the Council o…

May 5, 2017

Argentina: "Explotación a los presos en el Servicio Penitencial Bonaerense"

News

South America Argentina

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

May 5, 2017

En Colombie, dîner dans le restaurant d'une prison, c'est possible

News

South America Colombia

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

May 5, 2017

Indonesia: two days after prison break, 200 inmates at large

News

Asia Indonesia

Indonesian authorities said about 200 inmates remained at large two days after a mass escape from an overcrowded prison on Sumatra island.

May 4, 2017

Canada: Ontario vows to act on solitary confinement limits in new report

News

North America Discipline Canada

Ontario’s prisons adviser has laid out a plan that would catapult the province’s prison system from a national laggard to one of the most progressive in the world by placing hard limits on the use of solitary confinement and prohibiting the segregation of vulnerable prisoner populations.

May 3, 2017

Media silent as U.S. prisoners continue to hunger strike abysmal conditions

News

Protest United States

Prisoners across the U.S. have been holding hunger and labor strikes since last year, with tens of thousands of inmates protesting abuse and poor conditions. But news reports on the strikes have been few and far between, leaving prisoners’ requests for humane treatment in the dark.

May 3, 2017

Sierra Leone: "I came away convinced that many of them know that they will die in the most inhumane prison in the world, despite their young age"

News

Africa Torture Sierra Leone

Alberto López is a Spanish journalist at the Department of Communication of the Salesian Missions Office in Madrid. A few days ago he visited one of the most inhumane prisons in the world in order to prepare for a documentary on the work of the Salesians with the most disadvantaged young people of…

May 3, 2017

One in three prisoners serving a life term anywhere is in the US

News

United States

The massive US prison population has started to fall in recent years, with violent crime at historic lows. Despite this, the number of inmates locked up for life is at an all-time high, according to a new report.

May 2, 2017

USA: fixing solitary confinement in New York state prisons

News

Discipline United States

Victor Pate spent almost two years in solitary confinement in New York prisons, off and on. Once, he said, he was isolated for 90 days for having too many bed sheets in his room. Only two sheets were allowed per prisoner, but Pate was at his prison job when laundry pickup came, he said, so he kept…

May 2, 2017

UK: call for inquiry over 'unbroken pattern' of deaths at prison

News

United Kingdom

HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes comes under fire during inquest into death of inmate – the 18th to have died there in past four years

May 2, 2017

France: "des urnes dans les prisons, un problème de volonté politique"

News

Europe France

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

May 2, 2017

UK: transgender woman said she would leave male prison 'in a box'

News

LGBTQI United Kingdom

Inquest hears Vikki Thompson died within a month of arriving at HMP Leeds where she was classed as being a suicide risk. A transgender woman sent to a male prison was found dead in her cell after repeatedly warning that she would leave “in a box”, a jury has heard.

May 2, 2017

USA: Milwaukee inmate died after being deprived of water for 7 days

News

United States

Inmates, correction officers and investigators are testifying in Milwaukee this week to help determine whether jail employees will be charged with abuse in the dehydration death of an inmate who the authorities say was deprived of water for a week.

May 1, 2017

USA: dog training changes prison inmates’ lives

News

United States

In five Florida prisons, some inmates are learning how to train dogs, with stunning results.

April 30, 2017

‘It was an invasion’: how Hungary managed to erase illlegal immigration in just a few months

News

Hungary

When other countries welcomed refugees with open arms, Hungary decided it was time to eradicate illegal immigration at any cost. The country succeeded, but that success damaged relations with the European Union in the process.

April 30, 2017

L’Argentine lance un vaste chantier pour augmenter les places de prison

News

South America Argentina

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

April 30, 2017

Former guard reveals what life is like at a North Korean prison camp

News

Asia North Korea

Lim Hye-jin described watching interned political dissenters set on fire, beheaded and shot dead en masse in collective punishment following escape attempts. Thousands of inmates in North Korean prison camps face beatings, summary executions, starvation and rape, a former guard has revealed.

April 29, 2017

En direct de l'Europe. Prisons : la détention provisoire en dernier recours

News

Pre-trial detention Europe France

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

April 28, 2017

Morocco: Human Rights Council debates pre-trial detention and prison overcrowding

News

Overcrowding Morocco

The National Council of Human Rights (CNDH) organized on Tuesday a symposium on pre-trial detention, which leads to overcrowding in prisons.

April 28, 2017

Canada: Justice ministers craft plan to unclog court systems

News

North America Justice Canada

Elimination of some minimum mandatory sentences and reform of bail system will be under review

April 28, 2017

United States: Utah to use firing squads in upcoming executions

News

North America Death penalty United States

Utah will execute three inmates by firing squad for the first time since the method was reinstated in 2015 by Gov. Gary Herbert.

April 27, 2017

What it’s really like to spend time in a Canadian prison

News

Canada

I was 5’9“, weighed less than 160 pounds, and I didn’t know how I was going to make it in the pen.

April 27, 2017

12 dead in Venezuelan prison clash

News

South America Venezuela

An outbreak of violence between rival gangs at a prison in eastern Venezuela has left 12 dead and 11 injured, the government said Wednesday.

April 27, 2017

United States: YPEI plans inmate teaching program

News

North America United States

Incarcerated people in Connecticut may soon be able to take Yale College courses for academic credit as part of the Yale Prison Education Initiative.