Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

June 11, 2019

Switzerland: des élus vaudois veulent améliorer les conditions des femmes en prison

News

Women Europe Material conditions Switzerland

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

June 11, 2019

Tajikistan: Submission to UN Human Rights Committee's Review

News

Justice Tajikistan

This memorandum provides an overview of Human Rights Watch’s main concerns with respect to the human rights situation in Tajikistan, submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (“the Committee”) in advance of its pre-sessional review of Tajikistan in July 2019. We hope it will inform the…

June 11, 2019

Malaysia: abuse, collusion and obstruction: Malaysia’s prison problems

News

Asia Malaysia

Ahnbhalagan Muthu died in prison in Penang last month. His wife claims he was severely beaten shortly before his death. His is the latest in a series of tragic cases highlighting issues with Malaysia’s prisons.

June 11, 2019

United States: after a transgender woman’s death at Rikers, calls for justice and answers

News

North America LGBTQI United States

In April, Layleen Polanco, a transgender woman, was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges and sent to the Rikers Island jail complex because she could not afford to pay a $500 bail. Nearly two months later, she was found dead in her cell.

June 10, 2019

Time — 1/12

Inside Outside

North America South America Women Asia Europe Long-term prisoners

Each month, the photographer Bertrand Gaudillère creates an image or chooses one from his archives. Prison Insider sends it to a dozen participants, prisoners around the world. They are in Argentina, in the United States of America, in France, in Switzerland, in Guatemala, in Ukraine, in Colombia…

June 9, 2019

Canada: un premier centre d'injection supervisée dans une prison canadienne

News

North America Drugs Canada

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

June 7, 2019

Libya: l'ONU dénonce les conditions de détention «épouvantables» des migrants

News

Africa Material conditions Libya

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

June 7, 2019

He was arrested at 13. Now Saudi Arabia wants to execute him

News

Middle East Death penalty Violence Saudi Arabia

As a boy, Qureiris participated in demonstrations like this bike ride, expressions of dissent in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province during the 2011 Arab Spring. Three years after he was filmed taking part in the bike protest, Saudi authorities arrested Qureiris, then just 13 years old. He was travelin…

June 7, 2019

France: opéré dans la prison d’Angers, l’ancien détenu obtient une réparation décevante

News

Europe France

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

June 6, 2019

Equator: infraestructura y reformas del periodo correísta agravaron crisis carcelaria

News

Central America and the Caribbean Ecuador

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

June 6, 2019

United States: what it’s like to spend half a life in solitary confinement?

News

North America Discipline United States

Tony Medina has spent two decades in a concrete box in Texas, alone.

June 6, 2019

United States: district of Columbia could restore voting rights to felons in prison

News

North America United States

The nation’s capital is set to consider legislation that would let people with felony convictions vote while in prison.

June 6, 2019

United Kingdom: decline in prison safety standards and lack of staffing "seriously hampering" inmate rehabilitation, report finds

News

Europe United Kingdom

“Perfect storm” of staffing issues, increased use of psychoactive substances and crumbling infrastructure across prison estate could be jeopardising public safety, expert warns.

June 6, 2019

Mexico: autogobierno, la crisis en las cárceles

News

Central America and the Caribbean Mexico

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

June 6, 2019

Japan: time is money

Testimonial

Asia Japan

Geoffrey is incarcerated in Osaka prison. He describes, for Prison Insider, one working day.

June 5, 2019

United Kingdom: 'inhumane' : damning report on English and Welsh prisons

News

Europe Torture United Kingdom

Decline in safety, conditions and social needs still apparent says monitoring boards’ chair.

June 5, 2019

Syria: "Palmyre", chasser les fantômes

News

Middle East Syria

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

June 4, 2019

Serbia: prisonniers et chiens s'offrent une deuxième chance

News

Europe Serbia

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

June 4, 2019

France: en Prison, le théâtre pour s’évader

News

Culture Europe France

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

June 3, 2019

United States: how secret languages thrive behind bars?

News

North America United States

On a now-private Facebook page, a prison guard in Texas casually joked last month about wanting to “gas” prisoners (throw urine or feces at them). Others in Georgia and Missouri posted about putting inmates in “the box” or “the hole” (slang for sending them to disciplinary confinement).

June 3, 2019

United States: the latest YouTube craze, videos that show you what it’s like to live in prison

News

North America United States

Prison channels on YouTube have more than 2.1 million subscribers.