Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

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.

April 3, 2026

United States: how incarceration reinforces poverty

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America Social ties Work United States

Incarcerated people and their families are exploited in an unjust system.

April 3, 2026

Cyprus: prison full, Fitiris says

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Asia Europe Facilities Overcrowding Cyprus

Cyprus’ prison and other holding facilities are full, Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said on Friday, though he did stress that the government is “trying to find solutions”.

April 1, 2026

United States: half of Massachusetts prison suicides were in solitary

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America Discipline Suicide United States

A recent report found three of the six suicides in Massachusetts prisons in 2025 took place in segregated units.

March 30, 2026

Israel: country passes law to give death penalty to Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks

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Crises Asia Death penalty Israel

Knesset approves measure that has been criticised by European countries and rights groups.

March 30, 2026

South Sudan: Torit incarcerated people depend on their families for food

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Africa Material conditions Social ties South Sudan

Torit Prison has reported commendable agricultural yields from its farms located in Magwi, Hatire, and other parts of Eastern Equatoria State. However, National Prison Service officials have expressed significant concern over the lack of transportation.

March 30, 2026

DRC: prison suffers deadly cholera outbreak

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Africa Crises Health Congo - Kinshasa

Medical teams have been sent to the prison to treat the sick and carry out preventive measures, including vaccinations.

March 29, 2026

El Salvador: 500 incarcerated people die in custody during Bukele anti-gang crackdown

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America Health Violence El Salvador

A Salvadoran human rights organization says at least 500 people have died in state custody since President Nayib Bukele launched his anti-gang offensive four years ago, with the vast majority having no ties to criminal groups.

March 26, 2026

India: NHRC takes suo motu cognisance of 285 people in prison deaths in Chhattisgarh jails

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Asia Health Mental health Material conditions Suicide India

The National Humans Rights Commission raised serious concerns about living conditions, healthcare and human rights violations inside the state’s prison system.

March 25, 2026

Myanmar: systemic abuse and extortion reported at Daik-U Prison as political prisoners face dehumanizing labour

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Crises Asia Health Violence Work Myanmar (Burma)

Sources close to the facility, including the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM), describe an environment where those unable to pay bribes to prison staff are singled out for the most severe forms of oppression.

March 24, 2026

Belgium: 147 incarcerated people sleeping on floor as Haren prison overcrowding persists

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Europe Material conditions Overcrowding Belgium

Public sector union ACOD and the Federal Prison Service are once again sounding the alarm as the number of incarcerated people in Brussels prisons continues to rise significantly.

March 23, 2026

Cyrpus: new prison to be built in Mathiatis

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Asia Europe Facilities Overcrowding Cyprus

A new central prison will be constructed on the outskirts of Mathiatis, following widespread overcrowding at existing facilities, justice minister Costas Fitiris confirmed to the House human rights committee.

March 22, 2026

India: the Supreme Court directs states, Union Territories to furnish updated details on prisons, including overcrowding

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Asia Justice Overcrowding

The Supreme Court has directed all the states and Union territories to furnish updated details relating to jails, including the sanctioned capacity of each prison and steps taken to check overcrowding.

March 20, 2026

Iran: clashes in Chabahar prison following protest over food ration cuts; more than ten incarcerated people injured

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Asia Health Material conditions Facilities Protest Iran

During the protest, a number of incarcerated people gathered in the prison yard and refused to return to their wards, objecting to detention conditions, lack of facilities, and the unsafe environment caused by recent developments in Chabahar.

March 19, 2026

United Kingdom: tens of thousands of incarcerated people in England and Wales at risk of cell fires

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Europe Facilities United Kingdom

The government has reneged on a pledge to make all prison cells fire-safe or take them out of use by the end of next year, meaning tens of thousands of incarcerated people in England and Wales will remain at risk.

March 19, 2026

Luxembourg: justice minister confirms growing prison population

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Europe Minors Facilities Overcrowding Luxembourg

Over the last two years, the Grand Duchy’s prison population has steadily grown, resulting in the need for action, Margue said. She pointed out the continuous recruitment in the sector, as well as plans for construction to address the issues.

March 17, 2026

Iran: Israeli airstrike on prison declared a war crime in new UN report

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Crises Asia Justice Health Facilities Iran

Tehran’s Evin prison was struck by Israel last June, leading to a UN investigation.

March 17, 2026

Sweden: prisons prepare to house young teens

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Europe Minors Justice Activities Sweden

Sweden is preparing for a juvenile judicial reform, expected to take effect in July, which will reduce the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13.

March 17, 2026

United States: Texas prison program reports 89% success rate in reducing reoffending

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America Alternatives United States

A 14-week restorative justice program operating inside Texas prisons reports that 89% of graduates do not reoffend within three years, Bridges to Life representative Christine Hanks said.

March 16, 2026

United Kingdom: homicide rate is 10 times higher in prisons

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Europe Violence United Kingdom

The chances of suffering a violent death are 10 times higher in prison than in the community, an analysis of Government figures has shown.

March 15, 2026

Finland: prisons are overcrowded, violent – and expanding rapidly

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Europe Material conditions Facilities Overcrowding Violence Finland

Finnish prisons suffer from overcrowding, which has spurred more violence behind bars. This year, new cell blocks are being built at prisons in Helsinki and Kylmäkoski to accommodate 180 incarcerated people.

March 14, 2026

Rwanda: prison occupancy falls below capacity for first time in years

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Africa Facilities Alternatives Rwanda

Rwanda’s prison population is now below the total capacity of correctional facilities, Interior Minister Vincent Biruta told lawmakers. He noted that the prison occupancy currently stands at 97.7 per cent of capacity.

March 14, 2026

Senegal: why women have an especially tough time in prisons?

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Africa Pre-trial detention Women Access to legal rights Material conditions Social ties Senegal

Maïmouna Diouf served several years in a women’s prison, found guilty of infanticide, a charge she denies. She says conditions were harsh — dirty mattresses on the floor, a lack of sufficient food and hygiene products.

March 14, 2026

United States: lack of social justice programs fuels female incarceration rate

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America Women Drugs Activities United States

Female incarceration globally has increased 60% in the last 25 years. There are 740,000 women and girls incarcerated in jails and prisons worldwide; 200,000 of them are in the United States, according to a 2025 report from the Prison Policy Initiative.