Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

April 14, 2022

Spain: walling up madness

Analysis

Europe Access to legal rights Discipline Mental health Drugs Material conditions Spain

There are 17 autonomous communities in Spain. Criminal legislation applies to the entire country. The Catalonia region is responsible for managing its own prisons. Thus, two different government administrations oversee the penitentiary system.

April 14, 2022

France: could do better

France

The French National Union for Families and Friends of People Suffering Mental Illness and/or Psychological Disability (Unafam) offers several approaches that could improve the treatment of people with mental illness who have committed offences. The European Court of Human Rights and the European Co…

April 14, 2022

Italy: walling up madness

Analysis

Europe Access to legal rights Discipline Mental health Drugs Material conditions Italy

The Ministry of Justice oversees the prison system. The organisation of health care in prisons has been the responsibility of the National Health System (Servizio sanitario nazionale, SNS) since 2008. There are many prisoners with mental health problems.

April 14, 2022

Belgium: walling up madness

Analysis

Europe Access to legal rights Discipline Mental health Drugs Material conditions Belgium

Belgium is a federal state. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for prison administration and prison healthcare. People suffering from mental illness who commit a crime are subject to a psychiatric assessment.

April 4, 2022

Kenya: un "marais artificiel" purifie les eaux usées fétides d'une prison

News

Africa Material conditions Kenya

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

March 24, 2022

Sunny Jacobs: Life Outside

Testimonial

North America Death penalty Social ties Rehabilitation Work United States

How is life after release? Sunny Jacobs was sentenced to death and spent seventeen years in detention for a crime she did not commit. She tells Prison Insider about the many challenges one faces upon release. She now works actively towards the abolition of the death penalty.

March 24, 2022

Ireland: Prisoner takes court action over period of ‘almost solitary confinement'

News

Europe Justice Ireland

Constitutional rights breached of man jailed for assault on ex-girlfriend, court told

March 24, 2022

New Zealand: Public-private partnership prison to experience same problems when taken over by government

News

Oceania Facilities New Zealand

PARLIAMENTARIANS heard that the two public-private partnerships (PPP) prisons would be subjected to the same condition experienced at other prisons when the Department of Correctional Services takes them over in a few years.

March 24, 2022

India: State extends jail term for those found using cell phone in prison

News

Asia Justice India

Prisoners using prohibited articles inside the jail are imposed imprisonment of six months and fine not exceeding Rs 200.

March 24, 2022

Russia: Alexei Navalny sentenced to 9 years in prison

News

Europe Justice Russia

Russian opposition leader and prisoner of conscience Aleksei Navalny has been sentenced to 9 years in prison for his overt criticism of Vladimir Putin and peaceful political activism.

March 24, 2022

Sunny Jacobs: Life Beyond

Testimonial

North America Mental health Death penalty Religion United States

How can you escape prison with your mind? Sunny Jacobs was sentenced to death and spent seventeen years in detention for a crime she did not commit. She tells Prison Insider how yoga, meditation and prayer helped her find freedom behind prison walls.

March 24, 2022

Sunny Jacobs: Life Inside

Testimonial

North America Mental health Material conditions Death penalty Activities United States

What is daily life on death row like? Sunny Jacobs was sentenced to death and spent seventeen years in detention for a crime she did not commit. She tells Prison Insider about her detention conditions and the burden of complete isolation.

March 23, 2022

Chile: Corte Suprema ratifica exigencia de médico/a las 24 horas en la Cárcel de Mujeres de San Miguel

News

South America Women Health Chile

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

March 23, 2022

Bolivia: Buses médicos parquearán en cárceles y hogares

News

South America Health Bolivia

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

March 23, 2022

Argentina: Una red para encontrar empleo tras pasar por la cárcel

News

South America Rehabilitation Argentina

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

March 23, 2022

España: La realidad de la reinserción social llega al Teatro Principal de Vitoria

News

Culture Europe Spain

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

March 22, 2022

Russie : Alexeï Navalny condamné à neuf ans de prison supplémentaires

News

Europe Justice Russia

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

March 22, 2022

Niger : Les autorités doivent garantir les droits des détenus

News

Africa Material conditions Niger

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

March 18, 2022

Ukraine: prisons in the war

Interview

Crises Europe Violence Ukraine

Dozens of Ukrainian prisons are under the control of Russian forces. Prisoners can hear the bombing from their closed cells. What is the fate of ordinary prisoners during the conflict?

March 16, 2022

Belgium: prison within prison

Interview

Europe Discipline Mental health Material conditions Belgium

When can someone be sent to solitary confinement? A new report strongly criticises the use of solitary confinement and the conditions of detention observed there. Interview.

March 9, 2022

Russia/Ukraine: Prisoners of war must be protected from public curiosity under Geneva Convention

News

Europe Ukraine

Prisoners of war in the Russian invasion of Ukraine must have their rights respected under the Third Geneva Convention, Amnesty International said today.

March 9, 2022

Russia: Parliament approves jail for ‘fake’ war reports

News

Europe Russia

Novaya Gazeta newspaper removes content and BBC suspends Russian operations after draft bill passes.

March 9, 2022

Russia: From prison, Navalny urges Russians to rise up and ‘stop the war’

News

Europe Russia

The jailed anti-Kremlin activist branded Putin an “obviously insane czar” in a string of tweets from behind bars.

March 9, 2022

Ukraine: prisoners with combat experience will be released to help defend the nation against Russian invasion

News

Europe Ukraine

Zelensky said the decision was ‘not easy from the moral point of view’but he stressed that the defence of the nation was now the highest priority.