Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

May 27, 2021

España: cuatro de las 12 operaciones contra el yihadismo en 2021 en España tuvieron lugar en cárceles

News

Europe Protest Violence Religion Spain

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

May 25, 2021

South Africa: inmates complain about the excessive use of force by prison officials

News

Africa Protest Violence South Africa

The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) said it has been approached by inmates, officials, and associations representing inmates, to address the alleged excessive use of force by correctional officials on inmates.

May 11, 2021

Colombia: octava jornada de protestas mientras organizaciones denuncian cerca de 40 fallecidos

News

South America Protest Violence Colombia

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

May 11, 2021

Argelia: condenada a dos años de cárcel una destacada activista por insultos al presidente y ofensas al islam

News

Africa Women Justice Protest Algeria

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

May 6, 2021

Colombia: por qué el país está en un escenario sin precedentes

News

South America Protest Violence Colombia

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

May 4, 2021

New Zealand: waikeria prison's role as a flashpoint for public debate about jails

News

Oceania Protest Violence New Zealand

The fires that set Waikato’s waikeria Prison alight over summer may be out, but the impact of the protests there is ongoing.

May 4, 2021

Russia: Daghestani and Azerbaijani inmates sew mouths shut in Russia prison hunger strike

News

Asia Health Material conditions Protest Torture Violence Russia

Nine inmates of a prison colony in Smolensk sew their lips shut as part of a hunger strike over “inhuman treatment” at the hands of prison guards.

May 3, 2021

Nigeria: tension in Kano prison as death row inmates protest confiscation of mobile phones, marijuana

News

Africa Drugs Protest Death penalty Violence Social ties Niger

Some death row prisoners at Kurmawa Prison in Kano have staged protests over confiscation mobile phones, marijuana and other prohibited items smuggled to them by visitors.

April 29, 2021

Bahrain: tensions rise in Bahrain prison as inmates' families protest conditions

News

Coronavirus Middle East Health Protest Violence Bahrain

Tensions had been rising in the country’s main Jau prison since an outbreak of COVID-19 last month

April 28, 2021

Russia: human rights crisis deepens as Navalny supporters arrested en masse

News

Pre-trial detention Asia Europe Health Protest Violence Russia

Russian authorities unleashed a crackdown on peaceful protesters demanding the release of Aleksei Navalny, arresting at least 1,700 and using excessive force, including tasers, at demonstrations around the country.

April 8, 2021

Nigeria: how at least 2,000 inmates were freed by gunmen at Imo prison

News

Africa Protest Violence Nigeria

The gunmen also attacked the nearby office of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the state police command, also freeing suspects there.

March 30, 2021

Venezuela: tragedia de Policarabobo, tres años de retardo procesal, frustración, dolor y sed de justicia

News

South America Access to legal rights Material conditions Facilities Protest Venezuela

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

March 22, 2021

Italy: “political action is powerless"

Interview

Coronavirus Europe Health Protest Overcrowding Italy

The second wave of the pandemic hit prisons with overwhelming force. What can the authorities do?

March 19, 2021

Haïti: un rapport évoque la complicité et le manque de gardiens dans l’évasion sanglante de février

News

Central America and the Caribbean Material conditions Protest Violence Haiti

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

March 18, 2021

Chile : Managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Health Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties Work Chile

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Chilean authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

France: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus Europe Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties France

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the French authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Spain: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus Europe Health Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties Spain

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Spanish authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

South Africa: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Africa Coronavirus Health Material conditions Protest Overcrowding Activities Social ties South Africa

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the South African authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 17, 2021

Haití: sangrienta fuga de una cárcel, se escaparon 400 presos y hay 25 muertos

News

Central America and the Caribbean Protest Overcrowding Violence Haiti

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

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: prison riots leave 79 dead, including 34 in Cuenca. Gang wars result in beheadings, dismemberments

News

South America Drugs Protest Violence Ecuador

“This is a human slaughterhouse,” is how a national police captain described the scene as he entered a high security area of Cuenca’s Turi prison following tuesday’s riot. “It is the most terrible thing I have ever witnessed as a police officer.”

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: President declares state of emergency following deadly prison riots

News

South America Protest Violence Ecuador

Officials in Ecuador say order has been restored at prisons in three cities, where authorities said at least 75 inmates died in riots between rival gangs. President Lenín Moreno declared the national prison system in a state of emergency and ordered stepped-up security measures.    Officials say au…

March 1, 2021

Bielorrusia: las autoridades atacan a menores de edad para reprimir la disidencia

News

Pre-trial detention Europe Minors Protest Violence Belarus

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

March 1, 2021

Rusia: las cárceles de Moscú, colmadas de seguidores de Navalny

News

Pre-trial detention Asia Access to legal rights Material conditions Protest Russia

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

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: violentos motines dejan más de 75 muertos en tres cárceles

News

South America Protest Overcrowding Violence Ecuador

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