Europe
"These two photos were my first introduction to prison life"
Insights
Focus
Europe
Material conditions
Facilities
France
“I had barely taken a step inside when a rat jumped out of the toilet bowl and landed on my feet…”
Thierry Chantegret is a photographer. He joined, in 2021, the team of the Controller-General for Places of Deprivation of Liberty (CGLPL). He comments, for Prison Insider, two of his photos.
Europe
Material conditions
Facilities
Overcrowding
France
Thierry Chantegret is a photographer with the French National Preventive Mechanism team. He spoke with us about the role of photography, his approach, and how he gets down to the facts.
España : Literatura de evasión: qué leen los presos en las cárceles españolas
News
Europe
Activities
Spain
This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish
France: in search of meaning
Testimonial
Women
Europe
Activities
Social ties
Religion
France
Sakina is a Muslim chaplain in prison. She guides female prisoners in their religious practice. Ramadan, daily organiszation, work on self-esteem… She tells us all about it
Ukraine: “prisons are left on their own”
Interview
Crises
Europe
Material conditions
Facilities
Violence
Social ties
Ukraine
Information about prison is not easily accessible, even less during the war. Prison Insider is seeking to update its information about Ukrainian prisons.
Europe
Justice
Material conditions
Facilities
Poland
A delegation of the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) carried out a periodic visit to Poland from 21 March to 1 April 2022. It was the Committee’s seventh periodic visit to this country.
Europe
Access to legal rights
Discipline
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
United Kingdom
England and Wales are two constituent countries of the United Kingdom. While their health, justice and prison policies fall under common legislation, their prison health services differ.
Switzerland: walling up madness
Analysis
Europe
Access to legal rights
Discipline
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
Switzerland
In Switzerland, people declared not criminally responsible are subject to therapeutic measures. In 2018, there were nearly 960 people subject to therapeutic measures. Nearly 60% of people subject to in-patient treatment are placed in prison.
Spain: walling up madness
Analysis
Europe
Access to legal rights
Discipline
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
Spain
There are 17 autonomous communities in Spain. Criminal legislation applies to the entire country. The Catalonia region is responsible for managing its own prisons. Thus, two different government administrations oversee the penitentiary system.
Netherlands: walling up madness
Analysis
Europe
Access to legal rights
Discipline
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
Netherlands
Both in its European and overseas territories, care in prisons is administered by the Ministry of Justice. Around 60% of prisoners present with at least one mental disorder. Prisoners suffering from severe disorders have to be placed in Extra Care Facilities (Extra Zorgvoorziening, EZV) present in…
Italy: walling up madness
Analysis
Europe
Access to legal rights
Discipline
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
Italy
The Ministry of Justice oversees the prison system. The organisation of health care in prisons has been the responsibility of the National Health System (Servizio sanitario nazionale, SNS) since 2008. There are many prisoners with mental health problems.
Belgium: walling up madness
Analysis
Europe
Access to legal rights
Discipline
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
Belgium
Belgium is a federal state. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for prison administration and prison healthcare. People suffering from mental illness who commit a crime are subject to a psychiatric assessment.
Germany: walling up madness
Analysis
Europe
Access to legal rights
Discipline
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
Germany
Germany is a federal republic divided into 16 Länder. The Ministry of Justice oversees prison health care. Federal law does not provide for any mental health care in prison. The Länder implement treatment measures. Significant variations have been observed from one territory and facility to another…
France: walling up madness
Analysis
Europe
Access to legal rights
Discipline
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
France
France has 187 prisons. Since 1994, prison health care falls under the authority of the Ministry of Health. Prison mental healthcare was the subject of a major reform in 2002.
Walling up madness
Analysis
Thematic paper
Europe
Access to legal rights
Mental health
Drugs
Material conditions
Suicide
More than 40 % of prisoners in Italy suffer from at least one mental disorder, about 30% in Spain, 35% in England, and 60% in the Netherlands. Does prison make you go mad? This is no doubt true for some. Prison Insider provides an overview of practices in eight countries.
España: La realidad de la reinserción social llega al Teatro Principal de Vitoria
News
Culture
Europe
Spain
This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish
Russie : Alexeï Navalny condamné à neuf ans de prison supplémentaires
News
Europe
Justice
Russia
This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French
Belgium: prison within prison
Interview
Europe
Discipline
Mental health
Material conditions
Belgium
When can someone be sent to solitary confinement? A new report strongly criticises the use of solitary confinement and the conditions of detention observed there. Interview.