Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

August 25, 2019

Russia: 'Black Hole', prosecutors probing allegations of punitive psychiatric treatment in Siberian prison

News

Asia Europe Mental health Russia

Igor Sovchuk, a prisoner at prison IK-6 in the city of Tyumen, Siberia, complained repeatedly of a headache. After being told repeatedly to shut up, the guards finally agreed to take him to the medical unit. He was given an injection and sent back to his cell.

August 24, 2019

France: une vie entre les murs, le défi des longues peines de prison

News

Europe Long-term prisoners France

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

August 23, 2019

USA: the U.S. isn't counting prison suicides even though the law requires it

News

Suicide United States

Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide shined a light on a problem in the prison system: No one is keeping track of suicide deaths on a national basis.

August 23, 2019

Egypt: urgent investigation needed after death in notorious Al-Aqrab prison

News

Africa Middle East Violence Egypt

Egyptian authorities must urgently carry out an independent and impartial investigation into the death of Hossam Hamed, a 30-year-old prisoner being held at al-Aqrab prison, amid allegations that he was tortured.

August 23, 2019

Switzerland: nursing home behind prison bars

News

Europe Switzerland

Wheelchairs, articulated beds, grab rails for showers and toilets: the infrastructure of the “60-plus” unit at the high-security prison in Lenzburg, north-western Switzerland, reveals the presence of older people behind bars.

August 23, 2019

Switzerland: dying in dignity behind bars

News

Europe Switzerland

Swiss prisons were designed for 20-to-30-year-old offenders who are released after serving their sentences. However, the number of older inmates is steadily increasing.

August 23, 2019

Guinea: intimidation by imprisonment

Testimonial

Africa Guinea

Barry was a member of the main opposition party to President Alpha Condé. He was incarcerated for over four years.

August 22, 2019

USA : douzième exécution depuis le début de l’année

News

North America Death penalty United States

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

August 22, 2019

“I am a woman, do not lock me up with men!”

Testimonial

Women LGBTQI Morocco

Sama was incarcerated in Boulmharez, Morocco. She tells her story.

August 21, 2019

USA: Kansas’ low-staff, long-term prison deal hints at a booming future for private corrections

News

United States

On Valentine’s Day at one of Kansas’ largest state prisons, the new Democratic governor, Laura Kelly, stood before a room of corrections officers in body armor and black polos and begged them not to leave their jobs.

August 21, 2019

Indonesia: Papua prison break, hunt for 250 inmates who escaped torched prison

News

Asia Indonesia

Indonesian authorities are hunting for more than 250 inmates who escaped from a prison in the province of West Papua.

August 21, 2019

Protecting LGBTI people deprived of their freedom: a fundamental duty

Interview

LGBTQI

The Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), headquartered in Geneva, has been working for forty years to prevent abuse in prison, especially by strengthening the monitoring bodies in places of deprivation of liberty. It is publishing a monitoring guide for the protection of LGBTI persons i…

August 20, 2019

Cameroon: Human Rights Watch dénonce la torture de détenus

News

Africa Torture Cameroon

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

August 20, 2019

Indonesia: des centaines de détenus s'évadent d'une prison lors d'une émeute

News

Asia Protest Indonesia

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

August 20, 2019

India: overcrowding, inadequate staff and lack of menstrual products in Haryana prisons: study

News

Asia Overcrowding India

Undignified body searches, absence of proper health and hygiene facilities for female prisoners, inadequate staff, overcrowding and racism are some of the issues afflicting prisons in Haryana, a study by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and Haryana State Legal Services Authority has…

August 20, 2019

“Prison confines the world in small spaces”

Interview

Books written by Brigitte Brami carry an impression of walls and confinement: all her works are either inspired by or were completed in prison. Solidarity between women, violence, and body constraints: this is how she perceives prisons. Prison Insider spoke to Brigitte Brami, a poet and former pris…

August 19, 2019

Spain: se duplican las muertes por consumo de drogas en las cárceles

News

Europe Drugs Violence Spain

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

August 19, 2019

New Zealand: Hōkai Rangi, the plan to reduce Māori in prison from 52 percent to 16

News

Oceania New Zealand

The Department of Corrections has launched a major new strategy focused on treating prisoners with respect and giving them more access to whānau.

August 19, 2019

Japan: surveillance and old age

Interview

Asia Long-term prisoners Mental health Japan

Akaike Kazumasa is a criminologist and specialises in the Japanese prison system. Rate of imprisonment, working as a prisoner, prisoners’ age: Prison Insider asks him three questions to understand the particularities of the country’s penitentiary system.

August 19, 2019

Argentina: neglected prisons

Testimonial

South America Argentina

Inmates in the Marco Paz and Los Olmos prisons live in deplorable conditions. Photographs testify to the gravity of the situation.

August 18, 2019

Nicaragua: cárcel y homofobia

News

Central America and the Caribbean LGBTQI Nicaragua

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

August 17, 2019

Australia: where do you go when you leave jail?

News

Oceania Australia

Picture this: You’ve just walked out of jail in a country town. You’re given one change of clothes, about $275 and two nights at a motel. What would you do?

August 16, 2019

Turkey: wardens entered the prison ward, battered the inmates

News

Europe Turkey

Adana Branch of Human Rights Association (İHD) has talked to inmates of Osmaniye Type T No 2 Prison and prepared a report based on their accounts. HDP MP Kurtulan has submitted a Parliamentary question regarding the violation of rights in prison.

August 15, 2019

Ecuador: ¿Qué cambió el Estado de Excepción?

News

Central America and the Caribbean Ecuador

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