Material conditions
Managing uncertainty in prison: diverse responses to COVID-19
Analysis
Thematic paper
Africa
Coronavirus
Crises
Central America and the Caribbean
South America
Asia
Europe
Material conditions
Social ties
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the 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?
Argentina: managing uncertainty
Analysis
Coronavirus
America
South America
Material conditions
Activities
Social ties
Argentina
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Argentinian 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?
Chile : Managing uncertainty
Analysis
Coronavirus
America
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?
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?
New Zealand: managing uncertainty
Analysis
Coronavirus
Oceania
Material conditions
Activities
Social ties
Work
New Zealand
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the New Zealand 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?
Costa Rica: managing uncertainty
Analysis
Coronavirus
America
Central America and the Caribbean
Material conditions
Activities
Social ties
Costa Rica
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Costa Rican 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?
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?
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?
Thailand: managing uncertainty
Analysis
Coronavirus
Asia
Health
Material conditions
Overcrowding
Activities
Social ties
Work
Thailand
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Thai 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?
Brazil: managing uncertainty
Analysis
Coronavirus
America
South America
Material conditions
Activities
Social ties
Brazil
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Brazilian 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?
Ireland: managing uncertainty
Analysis
Coronavirus
Europe
Material conditions
Activities
Social ties
Ireland
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Irish 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?
Norway: managing uncertainty
Analysis
Coronavirus
Europe
Health
Material conditions
Activities
Social ties
Norway
As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Norwegian 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?
Africa
Material conditions
Facilities
Torture
Violence
South Africa
Violence has deep roots in South Africa, going back to colonial conquest and the apartheid state. Which is why those who end up in prison receive very little sympathy, and even less coverage in the national press.
Venezuela: familiares de presos de Polimiranda deben llevar agua a diario para aseo y consumo
News
South America
Health
Material conditions
Venezuela
This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish
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
UK: different sides of a shared story
Interview
Coronavirus
Europe
Mental health
Material conditions
Social ties
United Kingdom
As the pandemic hit the UK, researchers were banned from entering prisons. The Prison Reform Trust remotely mobilised about 800 prisoners to share how the measures were affecting them. Prison Insider asked them three questions.
Women
Oceania
Access to legal rights
Justice
Material conditions
Violence
New Zealand
Auckland Women’s Prison treated inmates in a “degrading,” “cruel” and “inhumane” manner in a “concerted effort to break their spirit,” according to a stinging ruling from a district court judge.
Europe
Material conditions
Work
Switzerland
Georges was incarcerated for 12 months in the prison of Fribourg while awaiting sentencing. He recounts how a day in prison unfolds.
Ireland: social distress in prison
Interview
Europe
Discipline
Mental health
Material conditions
Ireland
After a significant reform in Irish prisons, the CPT remains concerned about the conditions of detention in segregation cells and for mentally ill prisoners. A member of the monitoring body told us what she observed.
Asia
Access to legal rights
Material conditions
Protest
Russia
In recent weeks, the Russian authorities arrested thousands of demonstrators at protests across the country, sentencing hundreds to several days or weeks in jail. For many of these people, behind bars for the first time in their lives, state custody was a uniquely upsetting experience — particularl…
Rusia: liberen a Aleksei Navalny, envenenado, detenido y condenado injustamente
News
Asia
Access to legal rights
Justice
Material conditions
Torture
Violence
Russia
This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: Spanish
Asia
Material conditions
Overcrowding
Russia
The number of convicts held in correctional system facilities has decreased in Russia up to 482,000 people by the beginning of 2021, the Supreme Court’s head Vyacheslav Lebedev announced Tuesday.
According to the highest instance’s Chairman, the number of detainees continues to decline. Last year,…
Minors
Middle East
Access to legal rights
Material conditions
Violence
Iran
“The situation is terrible. The water is undrinkable, the washing facilities are faulty, and bathroom breaks are rationed. There’s hot water for half an hour a day. The ward is dirty and full to bursting. A ladleful of lentils and stones, and frozen rotten sausages, is all we get to eat. There are…
Guinée : "décédé de mort naturelle" un constat qui se multiplie à la prison de Conakry en Guinée
News
Africa
Access to legal rights
Health
Material conditions
Guinea
This article is not available in English. This article is available in the following versions: French