Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

April 24, 2019

New Zealand: prison population tips over 10,000 again, but still 1500 below forecast

News

Oceania New Zealand

The prison muster has tipped over 10,000 again, but the declining trend has Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis looking to phase out double bunking and retiring “cramped horrible cells”. The current prison population, considered to be at crisis level a year ago, was at 10,039 last week - 300 higher t…

April 24, 2019

Belgium: un double meurtrier prépare sa demande d'euthanasie

News

Europe Belgium

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

April 24, 2019

Ireland: Minister expresses ‘grave concern’ over prison deaths in internal correspondence

News

Europe Ireland

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has expressed “grave concern” at the handling of deaths in prisons, according to internal prison service correspondence seen by the Irish Examiner. The minister’s concern followed a recent inquest in Cork which heard that CCTV footage showed that a written reco…

April 24, 2019

United States of America: prison population is shrinking

News

North America United States

In 2018, the number of prisoners hit a nine-year low. But some states are resisting the trend. The number of people in U.S. prisons fell to a nine-year low of just under 1.5 million last year, a 1.3 percent decrease, according to a report released today by the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice.

April 24, 2019

Paraguay: las cárceles, una bomba a punto de explotar [vídeo]

News

South America Paraguay

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

April 24, 2019

Belgium: la grève des gardiens de prison a coûté 3 millions

News

Europe Belgium

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

April 24, 2019

India: Inmates climb atop Madurai Central Prison building to stage stir

News

Asia India

According to prison officials, the prisoners climbed atop block-3 building using the windows after strict checking to curb ganja smuggling was enforced.

April 24, 2019

Myanmar: prison strikes and riot following ‘unfair’ presidential pardon

News

Asia Myanmar (Burma)

Inmates at Shwebo Prison and Mopalin Labor Camp have staged demonstrations and called for a review after they were excluded from this year’s presidential pardons. The demonstrations were mainly staged by those serving their time under articles 15 and 16 of the 1993 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic S…

April 24, 2019

Portugal: quiere permitir que las cabinas telefónicas y móviles en las cárceles

News

Portugal

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

April 24, 2019

Kazakhstan: troops enter prison, sparking concerns about treatment of inmates

News

Asia Kazakhstan

Relatives of inmates at a prison in Kazakhstan say soldiers with service dogs entered the facility, while concerned activists and familiy members were denied entry. Relatives of inmates at Correctional Colony LA-155/14 near Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, told RFE/RL on April 24 that they saw se…

April 24, 2019

Japan: "ridiculously crazy, but true!"

Testimonial

Asia Japan

“We are only allowed five letters per month.” Geoffrey is incarcerated in Osaka. He wrote to Prison Insider. Abstracts.

April 23, 2019

Bolivia: fiscalía resuelve la situación penal de 39 internos para descongestionar las cárceles de Tarija

News

South America Bolivia

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

April 23, 2019

Mexico: las cárceles de SLP siguen igual que hace ocho años

News

Central America and the Caribbean Mexico

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

April 23, 2019

United States of America: solitary confinement worsens mental illness

News

North America Discipline Mental health United States

Prisoners who volunteered for a mental health diversion program say promises of therapy and time out of their cells weren’t fulfilled. And Texas prison officials aren’t regularly tracking success rates — even as they ask lawmakers to fund an expansion of the program.

April 23, 2019

Nigeria: stringent bail conditions responsible for prison congestion

News

Africa Material conditions Nigeria

Some lawyers in Lagos on Tuesday attributed prison congestion in the country to the inability of defendants to perfect stringent bail conditions.

April 22, 2019

Ecuador: los centros de rehabilitación de Cuenca, Latacunga y Guayaquil no tienen comedores.

News

Central America and the Caribbean Ecuador

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

April 22, 2019

Mexico: denuncias por tortura sexual contra reclusas serán llevadas ante la ONU

News

Central America and the Caribbean Torture Mexico

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

April 22, 2019

Spain: el séptimo país de Europa que tiene más presos por habitante

News

Europe Spain

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

April 22, 2019

France: à Caen, dans la prison pionnière des transgenres

News

Europe LGBTQI France

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

April 22, 2019

Malaysia heading towards smart prison systems

News

Malaysia

The Malaysian Prisons Department is studying the viability of using artificial intelligence (AI) systems in its facilities. Its director general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar said smart technologies could be used to support management and administration within and outside prison walls.

April 21, 2019

Ukraine: los presos votan en la segunda vuelta de las elecciones presidenciales

News

Europe Ukraine

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

April 20, 2019

Bolivia: subcomité ONU denuncia impunidad en torturas hechas en cárceles por policías y penitenciarios

News

South America Torture Bolivia

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

April 20, 2019

Spain: el único centro cerrado que funciona en Barcelona y el único con un módulo para madres

News

Europe Spain

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

April 20, 2019

United States of America: congress considers making college more accessible to people in prison

News

North America United States

Inmates are among the least-educated people in America. That’s despite research that shows education is one of the most effective ways to keep people from coming back to prison.