Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

April 30, 2026

Ireland: prison officers to be issued with body cameras, batons amid rise in violence

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Europe Discipline Overcrowding Violence Ireland

The Director of the Irish Prison Service has said prison officers are to be issued with body worn cameras and batons for personal protection later this year to deal with the increased levels of violence in the prisons.

April 30, 2026

Russia: at least 6 political prisoners died in custody in the first 4 months of 2026

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Crises Asia Europe Health Mental health Suicide Russia

According to data from the human rights organization Memorial, more than 5,000 people in Russia are victims of political repression. At least 68 of them have died in custody over the past decade and a half, including at least six since the start of 2026.

April 27, 2026

France: prison guards call for strike action as overcrowding crisis deepens

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Europe Overcrowding France

France’s prisons are edging closer to a breaking point, with one of the country’s main prison guard unions calling for strike action to force what it says are long-overdue reforms.

April 25, 2026

Afghanistan: 116 million afghanis prison facilities construction begins in Panjshir

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Asia Facilities Afghanistan

Construction of central prison facilities has officially begun in central Panjshir province at a cost of 116 million afghanis, an official said on Saturday.

April 24, 2026

United Kingdom: incarcerated people evacuated from prison building due to fire

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Crises Europe Facilities United Kingdom

Incarcerated people were evacuated from a prison building at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk after a fire broke out.

April 22, 2026

Armenia: suicide attempt at Armavir prison amid growing concerns

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Asia Europe Mental health Suicide Overcrowding Armenia

On March 20, an incarcerated person at the Armavir penitentiary institution attempted suicide by hanging, drawing renewed attention to deteriorating conditions and safety standards in Armenia’s prison system.

April 22, 2026

Mozambique: prison overcrowding reaches 113 per cent

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Africa Material conditions Facilities Overcrowding Alternatives Rehabilitation Mozambique

Mozambique’s Attorney-General, Americo Letela, has revealed that the country’s prisons now hold more than twice the number of incarcerated people they were designed for.

April 20, 2026

United States: as Montana moves incarcerated people to a prison in Mississippi, families worry about losing contact

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America Facilities Social ties United States

The Montana Department of Corrections plans to move hundreds of incarcerated people to Mississippi, adding obstacles and uncertainty for families trying to keep in touch with their loved ones.

April 20, 2026

Belarus: UN experts warn of "deeply alarming detention practices"

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Europe Discipline Health Mental health Material conditions Suicide Torture Social ties Belarus

United Nations experts expressed concern over allegations of prolonged incommunicado detention and dire custody conditions in Belarus that may amount to torture.

April 19, 2026

Iran: 20 political prisoners transferred from Evin Prison, denied contact with families

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Crises Asia Facilities Social ties Iran

According to a report by the Voice of Prisoners in East Kurdistan and Iran, 20 political prisoners have been transferred from Evin Prison to Ghezel Hesar Prison over the past few days, and all contact with their families has been severed.

April 18, 2026

China: CTA highlights case of Tibetan political prisoner and writer Tsultrim Gyaltsen, renews human rights concerns

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Crises Asia Social ties China

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has spotlighted Tibetan writer and political prisoner Tsultrim Gyaltsen’s case. The administration claimed that Gyaltsen’s family has faced severe restrictions, with only a single brief visit reportedly allowed in October 2014.

April 17, 2026

Venezuela: dozens of political prisoners freed

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America Crises Venezuela

Venezuela freed 46 political prisoners on April 16, the latest releases after the fall of autocratic leader Nicolas Maduro.

April 16, 2026

El Salvador: Bukele signs reforms allowing life prison sentences for people as young as 12

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America Minors Long-term prisoners El Salvador

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele signed into law constitutional reforms to permit life prison sentences for people as young as 12, a contentious reform that follows other heavy-handed measures pushed through by the populist leader.

April 15, 2026

Belgium: 750 incarcerated people forced to sleep on floor

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Europe Material conditions Overcrowding Belgium

A record number of incarcerated people in Belgium are sleeping on the floor as prison overcrowding worsens, with 750 people currently without a bed, according to the ACOD Prisons trade union.

April 15, 2026

Russia: at 15, he became one of Russia’s youngest political prisoners. He now faces new charges

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Crises Asia Europe Minors Russia

Arseny Turbin became one of the youngest political prisoners in Russia when he was arrested at age 15 in 2023.

April 13, 2026

Luxembourg: how country uses ankle monitors as alternative to prison

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Europe Alternatives Luxembourg

15 people in Luxembourg are currently wearing an ankle monitor. Far from being purely a punitive measure, the device is seen as a step towards reintegrating people into society.

April 13, 2026

United States: State Police investigate 3 recent deaths at separate North Country prisons

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America Justice Health Suicide Violence United States

The New York State Police are investigating three deaths at separate prisons in the North Country over the last week.

April 13, 2026

United Kingdom: mental health crisis in prisons getting worse, says Inspectorate

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Europe Mental health United Kingdom

Prison inspectors have warned of a worsening crisis of people with severe mental health problems being trapped within prisons.

April 11, 2026

Russia: Russian listed by Memorial as political prisoner goes on hunger strike

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Crises Asia Europe Health Material conditions Russia

A former Moscow district official serving a long prison sentence in Russia for what he says were trumped-up political charges has declared a “dry hunger strike”, refusing both food and water.

April 10, 2026

Iran: the bodies of six executed political prisoners have still not been returned to their families

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Crises Asia Death penalty Social ties Iran

Their families, expressing deep concern, have called for transparent information regarding the fate of their loved ones.

April 10, 2026

Sweden: country Prison and Probation Service to rent premises in Södertälje, Karlskoga, Gothenburg and Västervik

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Europe Facilities Sweden

The government has decided that the Swedish Prison and Probation Service will rent premises in Södertälje, Karlskoga, Gothenburg and Västervik. Two new prisons will also be built in Värnamo and Trelleborg; the Trelleborg project has been planned for a long time.

April 8, 2026

New Zealand: more than a dozen released from prison dead by suspected suicide since 2023

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Oceania Suicide New Zealand

The coroner’s office says 14 people died in suspected suicides, after their release from prison over the past three years.

April 7, 2026

Zimbabwe: families urged to support incarcerated people during prison week

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Africa Social ties Zimbabwe

Speaking during the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Prison Family Week, officials emphasised the importance of maintaining family ties, even for those serving long sentences.

April 4, 2026

India: more than 3,700 incarcerated people in Karnataka await trial for 1-5 years

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Pre-trial detention Asia India

Thousands of undertrial incarcerated people in Karnataka continue to remain behind bars for extended periods, with fresh data tabled in Parliament highlighting the scale of delays in the justice system.