Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

August 15, 2019

Canada: Ontario prison farms making a comeback

News

North America Canada

Two federal prison farms in the Kingston, Ont., area are getting up and running again after the former Conservative government shelved the program in 2010.

August 15, 2019

Finland: la prison de la rédemption

News

Europe Finland

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

August 14, 2019

Thailand: restorative justice, an alternative tool for resolving prison overcrowding

News

Asia Overcrowding Thailand

Thailand Institute of Justice hopes that Restorative Justice will prove to be the crucial tool needed to resolve issues of prison overcrowding and congestion in the court system and reintegration of victims and offenders into the community.

August 14, 2019

Prisoners during the war

Interview

Seven million people were imprisoned during the First World War. One hundred years later, the exhibition ‘7 Million’ focuses on their living conditions in the camps, the reality of their captivity, and the political issues they created for the states in conflict. The International Committee of the…

August 13, 2019

Czech Republic: first czech open prison reports record-low reoffending rate

News

Facilities Czechia

The Czech Republic’s first open prison, which went into operation nearly two years ago, is reporting a record-low reoffending rate.

August 13, 2019

Switzerland: court rules prison earnings cannot be seized

News

Europe Switzerland

Switzerland’s top court has ruled that money earned in prison cannot be confiscated to cover legal costs.

August 12, 2019

Zimbabwe: 19 – 25 August 2019 set aside as Prison family Week 2019

News

Africa Social ties Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe every year sets aside the Prison family Week and this year it has been set for 19 – 25 August. During this time visitors can go visit their incarcerated relatives and get to interact with them freely as family and friends. The Prison will be open from 8AM to 4PM.

August 12, 2019

Spain: Sevilla, una de las cárceles con más presos con trastornos mentales graves

News

Europe Mental health Spain

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

August 11, 2019

UK: Boris Johnson anuncia la creación de 10.000 espacios nuevos en las prisiones

News

Europe Facilities United Kingdom

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

August 10, 2019

Sight — 3/12

Inside Outside

North America South America Women Asia Europe Long-term prisoners

Each month, the photographer Bertrand Gaudillère creates an image or chooses one from his archives. Prison Insider sends it to a dozen participants, prisoners around the world.They are in Argentina, in the United States of America, in France, in Switzerland, in Guatemala, in Ukraine, in Colombia, i…

August 9, 2019

Uganda: tortured in prison, Bizimana narrates his ordeal

News

Africa Torture Uganda

Frank Bizimana was deported on Tuesday having spent more than a year in a jail in Ntungamo where he was physically and physiologically tortured.

August 7, 2019

Lithuania: infringe prisoners' rights continue

News

Europe Access to legal rights Lithuania

Suite à sa visite de 2018 dans les établissements pénitentiaires de Lituanie, le Comité contre la torture a conclu dans son rapport que l’État continuait de violer les droits des personnes détenues.

August 7, 2019

Europe: "prisoners' rights under further pressure"

Interview

Europe Access to legal rights

A Dutch judge, in May 2019, refused to transfer a person to an English prison, stating that the conditions of detention could amount to a real risk of inhumane and degrading treatment. The prisoner was the subject of an European Arrest Warrant (EAW). The European legal framework facilitates judicia…

August 6, 2019

Australia: mums in prison or whose babies are in care need breastfeeding support too

News

Oceania Australia

Australian women want to breastfeed but many struggle. And the most disadvantaged face the biggest challenges.

August 6, 2019

Egypt: el agujero negro de la cárcel de Al Aqrab

News

Africa Middle East Egypt

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

August 5, 2019

France : le gouvernement planche sur un contrat de travail spécifique en prison

News

Europe France

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

August 5, 2019

Canada: new music project allows women to tell their stories from prison

News

Culture North America Women Activities Canada

Singing My Way Home pilot project helps female inmates in Miramichi compose their own songs.

August 5, 2019

United States: John Oliver cites Arizona controversy as example of prison issues on HBO's "last week tonight"

News

North America United States

In an episode centered around prison labor and reform, John Oliver focused on Arizona’s 2018 controversy surrounding feminine hygiene products for female inmates during his HBO show “Last Week Tonight.”

August 5, 2019

USA: program for children of incarcerated mothers in jeopardy after legislature ends funding

News

Social ties United States

A program serving children with mothers in prison is in jeopardy after the Oregon Legislature ended its funding.

August 5, 2019

France: plaintes pour violences contre des détenus à la prison de Rennes

News

Europe Violence France

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

August 5, 2019

Uzbekistan: closure of the country’s most notorious prison, the "House of Torture'"

News

Asia Uzbekistan

Jaslyk is Uzbekistan’s most notorious prison. On August 2, President Mirziyoyev ordered its closure.

August 5, 2019

Poland: groundbreaking lawsuit targets violations at controversial psychiatric facility

News

Europe Mental health Poland

A client of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR) has filed a lawsuit against the State Treasury, seeking damages for multiple violations at the National Centre for the Prevention of Dissocial Behaviours.

August 5, 2019

Prison as seen by children

Interview

Several 9/10-year-old classes drew their impressions of the carceral universe. Lise Simon and Caroline Touraut work for the Direction of Penitentiary Administration in France. They developed this project, gathered the drawings after meeting with the children through workshops. We asked them about…

August 4, 2019

Brazil: violencia salvaje en el infierno de las cárceles

News

South America Violence Brazil

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