Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

August 31, 2019

République Centrafricaine: surpopulation et manque de moyens chroniques à la principale prison de Bangui

News

Overcrowding Central African Republic

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

August 30, 2019

USA: how the prison economy works

News

North America United States

When economic freedoms are taken away, informal markets will always find new and ingenious ways to satisfy demand.

Source — The Guardian

August 30, 2019

USA: Woman who gave birth alone in Denver prison cell files lawsuit

News

North America United States

Diana Sanchez can be seen crying out in agony before lying down on a narrow bed in clips of silent surveillance footage.

Source — France TV Info

August 30, 2019

Iran: prisoners in Iran’s Gharchak prison for women protest inhumane living conditions

News

Women Middle East Material conditions Torture Iran

Two hundred inmates in Ward 5 of Gharchak Prison for women in the Iranian city of Varamin have sent an open letter to the head of the State Prisons Organization in Tehran Province protesting the prison’s inhumane living conditions.

Source — Iran Human Rights

August 29, 2019

USA: for incarcerated workers, summer heat can be a death sentence

News

North America United States

Abilene, Texas—Temperatures reached 97 degrees on June 21 at the French Robinson Unit prison the day Seth Donnelly collapsed.

Source — Truth Out

August 29, 2019

UK: forecast fall in prison numbers not "green light" for government justice reforms

News

Europe United Kingdom

A projected drop in the prison population is “no justification” for an “unevidenced ‘tough on crime’ policy” from the Government, campaigners have said. The comments came as the number of people behind bars was forecast to drop in the next five years.

Source — Belfast Telegraph

August 29, 2019

UK: Portland prison had 'unbearable smell of dead rats'

News

Europe United Kingdom

The smell of dead rats made working conditions at a prison “unbearable”, a report has said.

Source — BBC

August 27, 2019

Malta: changes to prison reform are slow to happen

News

Malta

Over the past weeks we’ve seen major changes done to Corradino Correctional Facility with regards to visitation rights and conjugal visits, but how much do we really know about the basic functions of a prison? Jeremy Micallef speaks with Senior Lecturer in the Department of Criminology Dr Sandra Sc…

Source — The Malta Independent

August 27, 2019

Russie : la CEDH condamne lourdement la Russie dans l’affaire Magnitski

News

Asia Europe Russia

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

August 27, 2019

USA : Aging in Guantánamo

News

North America United States

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

August 27, 2019

Mauritania: ordinary detention

Testimonial

Africa Mauritania

Mohamed faces a police check. He is arrested and placed in custody for lack of proper documentation. He spends one week there. He tells his story. Read more

August 26, 2019

Colombia: ultimátum a cárcel de mujeres en San Diego que está en riesgo de desplomarse

News

South America Colombia

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

August 25, 2019

Iran: family of murdered iranian prisoner demands prison officials be put on trial

News

Middle East Iran

The murder prompted protests and calls on social media for judiciary reform, citing the department’s incompetence.

Source — Jerusalem Post

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.

Source — RFERL

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.

Source — Vice

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.

Source — Amnesty

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.

Source — Swissinfo

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.

Source — Swissinfo

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. Read more

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 LGBTI Morocco

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

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.

Source — Mother Jones

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.

Source — BBC