Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 30, 2020

Albania: free 600 prisoners as pandemic precaution

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Albania

The government of Albania plans to temporarily release hundreds of prisoners convicted of lesser crimes and some who are elderly and suffering from chronic diseases that can make them vulnerable. Justice Minister Etilda Gjonaj said on Tuesday that about 600 prisoners are expected to be released fro…

March 30, 2020

Germany: state to release some 1,000 prisoners due to coronavirus

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Germany

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s most populous state North-Rhine Westphalia plans to release as many as 1,000 prisoners in order to free up cells to be used as quarantine rooms out of concern that coronavirus could spread unchecked in jails, its justice minister said. The plan, first reported by Focus…

March 30, 2020

Spain: first coronavirus death in Madrid prison in and 38 correctional officers test positive for coronavirus

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Spain

THE prisoner had underlying chronic illnesses and was serving time at the Estremera prison in Madrid. A Latin American woman of 78 years of age has been the first prisoner to die in Spain due to the coronavirus, after she was evacuated on March 20 to the Arganda del Rey Hospital in Madrid. Furtherm…

March 30, 2020

Malta: PN suggests temporary prisons to ease overcrowding and virus risk at Corradino

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Coronavirus Europe Health Overcrowding Malta

The government should consider setting up temporary prisons to ease overcrowding at Corradino prison and the related risk of the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus, the shadow minister for home affairs said on Thursday. Beppe Fenech Adami said the prison authorities should segregate elderly prisoners a…

March 30, 2020

Portugal: prisoners ‘of all kinds’ to be released as courts fail to meet judicial deadlines

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Portugal

Prisoners of all kinds – held on remand awaiting trial – are set to be released in the coming weeks because the courts have gone into basic paralysis. The trend has already started. A couple of weeks ago, the trial of dozens of Hells Angels was ‘post-poned indefinitely’ as defendants – many of whic…

March 30, 2020

Greece: plan for early release of inmates to curb virus risk

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Greece

The government has drafted a plan foreseeing the early release of up to 1,500 inmates in a bid to ease congestion in Greek prisons and lessen the chances of transmission of the coronavirus. The measure, which would be introduced by means of a legislative act that does not require parliamentary appr…

March 26, 2020

Australia: women released from prison are at much greater risk of violence

News

Women Oceania Violence Australia

Violence against women is rarely out of the news in Australia. We are now ten years into the National Action Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women (2010-2022), but there is still a long way to go. Our research shows this is particularly true for women who have been to prison. The considerable chall…

March 26, 2020

UK: concerns over level of self-harm at Durham Prison

News

Europe United Kingdom

CONCERNS have been raised about the level of self-harming in a “overcrowded’ North-East prison, to a new report looking at life behind bars. Durham’s Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) says while there had been significant decreases in the use of force at HMP Durham, from 612 in 2018 to 469 in 2019…

March 26, 2020

UK: why rehabilitation – not harsher prison sentences – makes economic sense

News

Europe United Kingdom

How should we treat convicted criminals? This is a matter of continuing public debate, and varies enormously across countries. Even within the so-called developed world, there are wide variations. The US, for example, imprisons more people per capita (over 700 per 100,000) than any other country in…

March 26, 2020

USA: how Louisiana’s oil and gas industry uses prison labor

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North America Work United States

This story was published in partnership with Southerly for our Powerlines series, which looks at climate change, justice, and infrastructure in the American South. The series is supported by the Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture at Columbia University, and is part of…

March 26, 2020

USA: as pandemic threatens to devastate prison population, new report provides updated “big picture” view of incarceration

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Coronavirus North America Minors Foreign prisoners Health United States

The Prison Policy Initiative’s new “Whole Pie” report reveals what’s at stake if prisons and jails do not take immediate steps to decarcerate.

March 26, 2020

UK: more fruit and veg for prisoners might just alleviate the crisis in our jails

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Europe Health United Kingdom

Poor diet is contributing to bad behaviour and reoffending. Liz Truss could should intervene and do for prisons what Jamie Oliver did for schools

March 26, 2020

UK: concern over segregated transgender women prisoners

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Women Europe Violence United Kingdom

The segregation of a jail’s transgender women prisoners for “long periods” has been noted as a concern by a watchdog. The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) also had “serious concerns” about the lack of rehabilitation courses, and of women facing homelessness on release from HMP Eastwood Park. It p…

March 26, 2020

USA: technical violations, immigration detainers, and other bad reasons to keep people in jail

News

North America Foreign prisoners United States

How ICE and probation and parole detainers (or “holds”) contribute to unnecessary jailing

March 26, 2020

France: confinement en prison, la contrôleure générale Adeline Hazan demande des libérations anticipées

News

Coronavirus Europe Justice Health France

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

March 26, 2020

France: la justice confrontée à un afflux de demandes de libération de détenus en raison de la crise du coronavirus

News

Coronavirus Europe Justice Health France

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

March 26, 2020

Spain: el síndrome de abstinencia agita las cárceles

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Coronavirus Europe Health Drugs Spain

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

March 26, 2020

Sweden: cárceles saturadas

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Europe Foreign prisoners Overcrowding Sweden

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

March 26, 2020

Spain: la situación en las cárceles de Sevilla sin vis a vis y menos drogas

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Coronavirus Europe Health Drugs Spain

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

March 26, 2020

Covid-19: l’ONU s’inquiète des risques de contamination dans les prisons et réclame des mesures d’urgence

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Africa Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Europe Oceania Health

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

March 26, 2020

France: à la prison de Rennes, être détenu et boursier, c'est possible !

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Europe Activities France

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

March 19, 2020

Canada: suspending prison visits over COVID-19 sparks fears of inmate backlash

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Coronavirus North America Health Canada

‘I am concerned that I’m going to get a call saying my son has been sent to hospital, or worse’

March 19, 2020

France: pandémie et prisons, les instructions de l’administration pénitentiaire

News

Coronavirus Europe Health France

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

March 19, 2020

USA: L.A. County releasing some inmates from jail to combat coronavirus

News

Coronavirus North America Health United States

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is releasing inmates from its jails and cutting down on how many people it books into custody to protect those housed in close quarters from the growing coronavirus pandemic. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said deputies and police officers across the county have…