Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

May 11, 2021

Niger: the cost of living

Testimonial

Africa Pre-trial detention Health Material conditions Facilities Overcrowding Violence Niger

Two prisoners attest to their conditions in overpopulated prisons. A way to survive: pay, every month, for access to better prison conditions.

April 29, 2021

Malta: the Corradino correctional facility is “diabolical” and the prison system should be completely revised

News

Europe Material conditions Facilities Overcrowding Rehabilitation Malta

Dean of the Faculty of social wellbeing Andrew Azzopardi said that it is “bursting at the seams”. “A few years ago, we were speaking about 200 to 300 people spending time in jail. It is now full up”

March 30, 2021

Venezuela: tragedia de Policarabobo, tres años de retardo procesal, frustración, dolor y sed de justicia

News

South America Access to legal rights Material conditions Facilities Protest Venezuela

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

March 29, 2021

Belgium: what is Haren ?

Interview

Europe Facilities Overcrowding Belgium

One billion euros have been invested in the construction of Haren, a massive prison complex located on the outskirts of Brussels.

March 1, 2021

South Africa: investigating prison for profit

News

Africa Material conditions Facilities Torture Violence South Africa

Violence has deep roots in South Africa, going back to colonial conquest and the apartheid state. Which is why those who end up in prison receive very little sympathy, and even less coverage in the national press.

March 1, 2021

Syria: the greater jail, the politics of prison

News

Culture Middle East Facilities Syria

In a talk co-organized by the assassinated activist Lokman Slim, former Syrian political prisoner Yassin al-Haj Saleh argues that “the politics of prison” are central to understanding the “politicide” of the Syrian people at the Assad regime’s hands.

March 1, 2021

Argentina: en cumplimiento de un fallo de la CorteIDH, el SPF aprueba un nuevo protocolo de traslados de personas privadas de libertad

News

South America Access to legal rights Justice Facilities Social ties Argentina

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

February 24, 2021

North Korea: orders expansion of political prison camp system

News

Asia Discipline Facilities North Korea

North Korea recently enacted an “anti-reactionary thought law” and is punishing violators with heavy sentences such as hard labor and the death penalty.

February 3, 2021

Mexico: AMLO busca cancelar contratos de cárceles privadas

News

Central America and the Caribbean Facilities Mexico

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

February 2, 2021

Nepal: prison infrastructure construction gains pace

News

Asia Facilities Nepal

The construction of buildings for the Central Jail in Nuwakot is picking pace, says the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to the MoHA annual report of fiscal 2019- 20, approximately 65 per cent work on construction of prison infrastructure has been completed. It informed that the construction wor…

February 2, 2021

Mexico: the president could cancel private prison contracts

News

Central America and the Caribbean Facilities Mexico

Mexico’s president will seek better terms for the government in private prison contracts signed by his predecessors, he said on Wednesday, adding that he could cancel them if better deals cannot be reached.

January 26, 2021

France: indiscriminate surveillance

Interview

Crises Pre-trial detention Europe Facilities France

There are 1,500 individuals who are identified as “radicalised” prisoners. How are they evaluated? By whom? What is their pre-trial detention like?

October 30, 2020

United Kingdom: speed up video calls rollout in prison to ease families’ lockdown anguish

News

Coronavirus Europe Material conditions Facilities Social ties United Kingdom

The rollout of secure video calls in prisons should be speeded up to ease the distress of families and their loved ones unable to see each other since the cancellation of social visits, a new briefing by the Prison Reform Trust (PRT) suggests. Based on 278 contributions from families and prisoners…

September 29, 2020

United States: California announces first closure of state prison since 2003

News

North America Facilities United States

A California assemblymember said nearly $200 million in operating costs will be saved after the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) announcement on Friday of the closure of a state prison in Tracy. The Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy was chosen for closure based o…

September 24, 2020

United Kingdom and United States: capital and the carceral state

News

North America Europe Material conditions Facilities Alternatives

Prison privatization

September 2, 2020

Thailand bets on prisons to boost tourism

News

Coronavirus Asia Facilities Thailand

Thailand plans to turn about half its prisons into tourist attractions to boost visitor numbers as the Southeast Asian nation struggles to recover from an economic slump caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

July 29, 2020

Russia: Incendie dans une prison pour femmes de Moscou, 850 évacuations

News

Europe Discipline Facilities Russia

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

July 27, 2020

France: Plus d’un tiers des 1400 djihadistes en prison en Europe sont détenus sur le territoire

News

Europe Facilities Violence France

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

July 24, 2020

Mexico: Sobrepoblación en cárceles aviva contagios de covid, critica Cruz Roja

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Health Facilities Overcrowding Mexico

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

July 23, 2020

POINT de vues

Insights Portfolio

Women Europe Material conditions Facilities France

Delphine Dauphy and Marc Loyon ran photography workshops in prisons for six months. This involved visiting both Vezin-le-Coquet prison and Rennes women’s prison seven times. Every prisoner was able to take part in creating a body of images documenting their daily life.

July 16, 2020

Argentina: cómo es el modelo de cárceles sin rejas que proponen aplicar en Santa Fe

News

South America Facilities Overcrowding Alternatives Rehabilitation Argentina

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

May 5, 2020

Türkiye: a life in isolation

Interview

Europe LGBTQI Access to legal rights Material conditions Facilities Turkey

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) prisoners represent a minority. Their protection is not ensured at all levels and their specific needs are neglected. Hilal Basak Demirbas works at the Society in the Penal System association. She regularly exchanges letters with LGBTI prison…

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March 25, 2020

France: a prison without bars?

Interview

Europe Long-term prisoners Facilities Work France

Casabianda is currently the only prison without bars on French soil. Guillaume Massart filmed a documentary La liberté (In the Open).

February 25, 2020

Uganda newest and 'coolest' prison ready for inmates

News

Africa Facilities Overcrowding Uganda

The Shs 25 billion facility sits on 5-acres of land and is situated about 55 kilometers northwest of Kampala, in Wakiso district. Construction of the state-of-the-art facility was funded by the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) with Ambitious Construction Limited as the contractor. It was built…