Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

April 6, 2020

Australia: 'urgent action' needed over high proportion of Indigenous women in prison, report says

News

Women Oceania Australia

The number of Indigenous women in custody has been called “one of the most challenging human rights issues facing Australia”. Research out today has shed new light on Indigenous women in the criminal justice system in New South Wales. It found the number of women in NSW jails between March 2013 and…

March 26, 2020

Australia: women released from prison are at much greater risk of violence

News

Women Oceania Violence Australia

Violence against women is rarely out of the news in Australia. We are now ten years into the National Action Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women (2010-2022), but there is still a long way to go. Our research shows this is particularly true for women who have been to prison. The considerable chall…

March 26, 2020

Covid-19: l’ONU s’inquiète des risques de contamination dans les prisons et réclame des mesures d’urgence

News

Africa Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Europe Oceania Health

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

March 18, 2020

Oceania: coronavirus, prison fever

News

Coronavirus Oceania Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 does not stop at prison gates. Prisoners often live in overcrowded cells and unsanitary contexts, sharing cells. What measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all prisoners and prison staff? What are the consequences of the pandemic on the living conditions in prisons? — Update 11…

March 9, 2020

Australia: WA's overcrowded prison system is a 'ticking time bomb'

News

Oceania Overcrowding Australia

A former inmate describes conditions inside the prison system as a “ticking time bomb”, with staff and prisoners under increasing stress

February 27, 2020

Australia: do people in prison matter less in an emergency than those who are free?

News

Oceania Australia

There is one image from the bushfire crisis that I am still not able to shake. It has led to night terrors where I wake in a sweat, feeling embers on my face and a desperate need to walk outside and look at the sky.

January 2, 2020

Australiia : Christmas in prison: How female inmates cope and support each other a "sad and lonely" time

News

Women Oceania Australia

December 25th can be a chaotic mix of cheer and stress, but above all, it is a time of year dedicated to family. While most celebrate with their loved ones, for those in prison, Christmas is a complicated matter. “It has a bit more of an impact on the women,” said Superintendent Julie Steineuer fro…

January 1, 2020

Coronavirus: Prison Fever / 2021

News Thematic paper

Africa Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Elderly prisoners Europe Middle East Oceania Health Mental health Material conditions Activities Social ties

The virus has not stopped at prison gates. What measures are taken to guarantee the safety of all prisoners and prison staff? What are the consequences of the pandemic on the living conditions in prisons? Here is an overview. — Update 31/12/2021

September 25, 2019

Australia: atados y amordazados, la realidad de los menores en las cárceles

News

Oceania Australia

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

September 10, 2019

New Zealand: measles lockdown - prisoners isolated, babies quarantined over fears disease has hit women's prison

News

Women Oceania Health New Zealand

Prisoners have been isolated and babies put into quarantine at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility over fears of a measles outbreak. On Tuesday night, Corrections informed Newshub there were concerns three female prisoners had been exposed to measles. They will remain isolated until their…

September 5, 2019

Australia: a third of the prison population has Hepatitis C, ice inquiry hears

News

Oceania Australia

NSW prison inmates who had been previously cured of Hepatitis C were being reinfected up to three times, the ice inquiry has heard.

August 19, 2019

New Zealand: Hōkai Rangi, the plan to reduce Māori in prison from 52 percent to 16

News

Oceania New Zealand

The Department of Corrections has launched a major new strategy focused on treating prisoners with respect and giving them more access to whānau.

August 17, 2019

Australia: where do you go when you leave jail?

News

Oceania Australia

Picture this: You’ve just walked out of jail in a country town. You’re given one change of clothes, about $275 and two nights at a motel. What would you do?

August 6, 2019

Australia: mums in prison or whose babies are in care need breastfeeding support too

News

Oceania Australia

Australian women want to breastfeed but many struggle. And the most disadvantaged face the biggest challenges.

July 29, 2019

New Zealand: measles in Mt Eden prison

News

Oceania New Zealand

A case of measles has been confirmed at the Mt Eden Corrections Facility.Deputy National Commissioner Andy Milne said on Saturday evening one prisoner was confirmed as having measles after showing symptoms the day prior.

July 29, 2019

Australia: juvenile prison guards strip searches cause mental health problems, former inmates claim

News

Oceania Health Mental health Australia

Children as young as 10 years old are being routinely strip searched in juvenile detention in NSW with minimal or no contraband found, according to new data.

July 5, 2019

Australia: Queensland government accepts prison overhaul after scathing report

News

Oceania Australia

The Queensland government has agreed to support 33 recommendations from a scathing report that found the state’s prison system was rife with overcrowding and corruption.

July 1, 2019

Australia: the biggest and most expensive jail sparks concerns in Grafton

News

Oceania Australia

Australia’s biggest and most expensive jail is being built near the New South Wales north coast town of Grafton, and locals are increasingly worried about the impact it will have on their region.

June 20, 2019

Australia: Sydney PC assembler using prison labour

News

Oceania Australia

An unidentified PC assembly company is using inmates at a Sydney prison to build some of its products.

June 20, 2019

Australia: "I just need it to end"

Testimonial

Oceania Australia

Ralph is a British citizen detained in a prison farm, in Kernet. He has been incarcerated for more than six years and is about to be released. He tells Prison Insider how a regular day goes by in prison.

June 17, 2019

Australia: Aboriginal man dies in custody days after jail was told he was suicidal

News

Oceania Suicide Australia

An Aboriginal man has died in a Western Australian prison just days after his mother reportedly called the jail to warn that he was suicidal.

June 13, 2019

Australia: Canberra's prison applied dress standards to visitors which could breach the Discrimination Act

News

Oceania Social ties Australia

The ACT Human Rights Commission is seeking clarification about the dress standards imposed on visitors at Canberra’s jail which included a ban on swimsuits, tight-fitting clothing and skirts shorter than mid-thigh.

May 16, 2019

Australia: babies and toddlers are living with their mums in prison, we need to look after them better

News

Oceania Australia

Women are going to prison at a higher rate than ever in Australia. Our tough sentencing policies sent women to prison at twice the rate of England and Wales in 2018.

April 28, 2019

New Zealand: $1 million spent on slushy machines for prison guards

News

Asia Oceania New Zealand

More than $1 million of taxpayer money has been spent on 193 slushy machines in a bid to keep prison guards cool over summer.