Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

February 21, 2022

Iran: Troubling execution rates show no sign of slowing down in 2022

News

Middle East Death penalty Iran

The Islamic Republic has long been, and remains, a leading executioner.

February 11, 2022

Honduras: Violenta pelea en una cárcel deja al menos cuatro muertos y 11 heridos

News

Central America and the Caribbean Protest Violence Honduras

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

February 11, 2022

España : Instituciones Penitenciarias quiere trasladar 200 presos de la península a Ceuta

News

Europe Facilities Spain

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

February 11, 2022

Brasil: Visita del órgano de prevención de la tortura de la ONU para reforzar el mecanismo nacional de prevención de la tortura

News

South America Torture Brazil

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

February 10, 2022

Austria: through the lens of the incarcerated

Investigations

Coronavirus Europe Foreign prisoners Overcrowding Alternatives Rehabilitation Work Austria

Prisons might be one of the most severely underreported spheres in our otherwise heavily investigated world. Journalist Sarah Yolanda Koss dives into Austrian prison issues.

February 9, 2022

Yemen: Saudi-led coalition announces probe into prison attack

News

Middle East Yemen

Saudi-led coalition says it will investigate attack on a prison in Saada, northern Yemen, last week that killed dozens of people.

February 9, 2022

Liberia: Where inmates are short of food, space and uniforms

News

Africa Material conditions Liberia

When the food ran out for inmates at Liberia’s main prison earlier this month it exposed the terrible conditions that have long existed in the country’s jails.

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

Iran : Deux hommes exécutés pour homosexualité

News

Middle East LGBTQI Death penalty Iran

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.

February 8, 2022

Lebanon: the LGBTQI population, forgotten prisoners

Interview

Middle East LGBTQI Lebanon

Openly belonging to the LGBTQI community can lead to prison, where there is no dedicated mechanism to protect these individuals. The organisation ProudLebanon is trying to change this. Interview.

February 8, 2022

“A decision to have a prison in a city is also a decision not to hide it.”

Interview

Rehabilitation Work France

Do cities have a part to play in reintegration? Links with associations, businesses, loved ones and society… to Antoine Dulin, reintegration is “everyone’s business”.

January 26, 2022

Singapore: A second chance in Prison School helps inmate score 2A1s at O levels

News

Asia Activities Singapore

Richard (not his real name) never thought he would get a second chance to retake the O-level examinations again.

January 26, 2022

Iran: Execution of Three Prisoners in Isfahan Prison, 12 Executions in 5 Days

News

Middle East Death penalty Iran

On Thursday, January 13, 2022, the clerical regime hanged three prisoners, Abdul Rahim Sargolzaei, Mohammad Jafar Salehi, and Shahin Khosravi, in Isfahan Prison.

January 26, 2022

Antigua and Barbuda: Scores of new beds set to ease prison overcrowding

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Antigua & Barbuda

Long-awaited better housing facilities for prison inmates are a step closer with the completion of the first phase of major upgrades.

January 25, 2022

France: "I don’t believe in powerlessness"

Interview

Coronavirus Pre-trial detention Minors Mental health Material conditions Overcrowding France

The Controller-General for Places of Deprivation of Liberty feels ‘useful everywhere’. One year after taking office, Dominique Simonnot responds to our questions in a candid interview.

January 24, 2022

Chile: Estudio del INDH sobre cárceles chilenas revela la cruda realidad de los reos

News

South America Material conditions Chile

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

January 24, 2022

Syrie : Des djihadistes s’évadent après l’attaque d’une prison par l’organisation Etat islamique

News

Middle East Syria

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

January 24, 2022

Suisse : Les oubliés de la dispute carcérale

News

Europe Switzerland

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

January 20, 2022

Suisse : Champ-Dollon, prison impossible à réformer

News

Europe Switzerland

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

January 18, 2022

Years in the Row

Analysis Thematic paper

Africa Women Asia Europe Minors Foreign prisoners Discipline Health Mental health Drugs Material conditions Overcrowding Death penalty Torture

Some people fear death every morning. Others are sentenced to death in countries that no longer carry out executions. At least 483 executions were documented in 2020. Prison Insider publishes an overview of practices in nine countries that have not abolished the death penalty.

January 18, 2022

Mauritania: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

Africa Access to legal rights Material conditions Death penalty Torture Social ties Mauritania

Mauritania has a moratorium on executions. Figures about the prisoners sentenced to death are scarce, as is information on their detention conditions. These prisoners are under the same detention regime as the rest of the prison population.

January 18, 2022

Indonesia: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

Asia Access to legal rights Material conditions Death penalty Torture Social ties Indonesia

No execution has been recorded since 2016. The number of sentences, however, has been on the rise. Since 2014, Indonesia has increased its efforts in the war on drugs after Indonesian President Widodo described it as a “national emergency”.

January 18, 2022

Cameroon: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

Africa Access to legal rights Material conditions Death penalty Torture Social ties Cameroon

Since 2014, an anti-terrorism law has led to a sharp increase in death sentences in Cameroon. Official data is lacking and is sometimes inconsistent with figures published by civil society organisations.