Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

September 5, 2022

Nepal: inmates deprived of basic facilities in overcrowded Morang Prison

News

Asia Material conditions Nepal

The prison is accommodating inmates more than three times its capacity.

July 19, 2022

Russia: the country recruits prisoners en masse for Ukraine deployment

News

Asia Russia

Prisoners with combat experience across Russia are being recruited en masse to fight in Ukraine.

June 29, 2022

South Korea: military opens new prison with advanced suicide prevention sensors

News

Asia

South Korea’s military on Thursday launched new correctional facilities with an advanced monitoring solution, including the country’s first suicide prevention sensors and other systems designed to improve the living conditions of inmates and help reduce the workload of guards.

June 29, 2022

Ukraine: Russia establishes more than 20 prison camps in occupied Ukraine

News

Asia Material conditions Russia

Russia has created more than 20 prison or “filtration” camps in occupied Ukrainian territory, Ukraine’s representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said.

June 29, 2022

Myanmar's junta rejects Red Cross request to resume prison visits

News

Asia Material conditions Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar’s military regime has rejected the request of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to resume its prison visits and other humanitarian activities and allow family visits.

June 22, 2022

Palestine: death penalty in a forgotten country

Interview

Pre-trial detention Asia Middle East Overcrowding Death penalty Palestinian Territories

Human rights organisations in the region feel like they are fighting alone against capital punishment. People are still sentenced to death and executed regularly. What is the situation in Palestine?

June 14, 2022

China : the Uyghurs now live in a giant, open air prison camp

News

Asia Material conditions China

There’s a cultural genocide taking place in China right now against the nation’s Uyghur minority. Aggressively monitored by Chinese authorities and faced with the constant threat of arrest or torture, this Turkish-speaking people in China’s Far West now exist in the world’s first, real-life, digita…

June 2, 2022

China: Fotografías pirateadas revelan cómo funciona sistema penitenciario en Xinjiang

News

Asia Torture Violence China

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

June 2, 2022

Nepal: “There are prisons inside prisons”

Interview

Asia Health Material conditions Overcrowding Nepal

What is going on inside Nepalese prisons? No one can say for sure. But basic human rights such as access to water and healthcare are rarely respected, and violence is everywhere. Here is an overview of the situation.

March 24, 2022

India: State extends jail term for those found using cell phone in prison

News

Asia Justice India

Prisoners using prohibited articles inside the jail are imposed imprisonment of six months and fine not exceeding Rs 200.

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?

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

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 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

Japan: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

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

No executions were recorded in Japan in 2020, for the first time since 2011. Reportedly, more than 25% of people sentenced to death are over the age of 70 and two of them have been incarcerated for over 40 years.

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

Pakistan: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

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

In 2015, Pakistan accounted for 20% of executions worldwide. However, 2020 saw a suspension of executions and a decline in sentences. Currently, there are more than 4,000 prisoners sentenced to death awaiting execution.

January 18, 2022

Malaysia: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

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

In 2018, Malaysia had a change in government for the first time since its independence. The new administration has committed to abolishing the death penalty for all crimes. Malaysia has had a moratorium on executions since this date.

January 18, 2022

India: detention conditions of people sentenced to death

Analysis

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

Most prisoners sentenced to death in India have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment during their judicial process. This can take several years given the duration of the procedures.

December 21, 2021

Corée du Nord : L’horreur des exécutions publiques

News

Asia Death penalty North Korea

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

Russia: “They’re killing us!”

News Investigations

Asia Europe Discipline Torture Russia

Prison Insider was contacted by an anonymous Russian source. They asked us to expose the abuse inflicted on prisoners in the Angarsk Penal Colony No. 15 following the riot there in April 2020. We explain how the events unfolded below.

December 6, 2021

Japon : Les prisons japonaises s’adaptent au vieillissement de leurs détenus

News

Asia Elderly prisoners Activities Japan

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