Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

February 2, 2021

Guinea: deaths in detention and prison sentence for opposition members

Africa Access to legal rights Health Material conditions Protest Guinea

Authorities in Guinea must investigate the deaths of at least four people in detention and end a wave of arrests targeting at least 400 opposition and civil society members.

February 2, 2021

Mexico: the president could cancel private prison contracts

News

Central America and the Caribbean Facilities Mexico

Mexico’s president will seek better terms for the government in private prison contracts signed by his predecessors, he said on Wednesday, adding that he could cancel them if better deals cannot be reached.

February 2, 2021

Cuba: first coronavirus vaccines reach prison at Guantánamo bay

News

Coronavirus Central America and the Caribbean Health Cuba

The first 100 members of the prison staff at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, have received initial vaccines against the coronavirus, the U.S. military said Tuesday evening, although it declined to say whether any of the 40 wartime prisoners at the detention center were offered or received vaccines. Capt. Gar…

February 2, 2021

India: "they don’t even look at us as humans. How can we expect them to protect us from the virus?"

News

Coronavirus Asia Health Material conditions India

As Covid paroles end, convicts returning to complete life sentences in the same barrack recount six months of horror, delayed testing, overcrowded living conditions and degrading treatment by jail staff. Karan Tripathi reports.

February 2, 2021

Lithuania: inside Vilnius prison during pandemic, "getting sick is inevitable"

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Lithuania

The coronavirus observes no walls – in Vilnius Penitentiary, the outbreak is difficult to control, as some inmates refuse to get tested, while facilities for quarantining infected people are limited.

February 2, 2021

Guyana: government tables bill to remove prison time for small amounts of cannabis

News

South America Justice Drugs Guyana

The narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances bill 2021, which removes the penalty of jail for anyone convicted of having 15 grams or less of cannabis, was tabled in the National Assembly on thursday.

February 2, 2021

New Zealand: Waikeria protests put a spotlight on prison conditions

News

Coronavirus Oceania Health Material conditions Protest New Zealand

While the protests at Waikeria shine a light on prisoner conditions, abuses of power and inhumane treatment in prison are not new and will continue until prisoner numbers significantly reduce.

February 2, 2021

Spain: prisons have lowest inmate population in 10 years

News

Europe Overcrowding Spain

Spanish prisons currently have the lowest number of inmates in ten years, thanks in part to legal reforms including the introduction of suspended sentences.

February 1, 2021

Maroc : des personnes pénalement irresponsables en prison, alerte sur une anomalie carcérale

News

Africa Access to legal rights Justice Mental health Morocco

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

February 1, 2021

Canada : bannir les courtes peines de prison pour éviter des suicides

News

North America Pre-trial detention Justice Mental health Suicide Alternatives Canada

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

February 1, 2021

Kazakhstan : abolition de la peine de mort

News

Asia Death penalty Kazakhstan

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

February 1, 2021

Suisse : l'aide au suicide pour les prisonniers envisagée

News

Europe Access to legal rights Justice Mental health Suicide Switzerland

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

January 27, 2021

Brazil: motherhood behind bars

Coronavirus Pre-trial detention South America Women Material conditions Social ties Brazil

What the numbers reveal about incarcerated mothers and pregnant women.

January 27, 2021

Colombia: repair, educate, reconcile

Interview

Activities Alternatives Rehabilitation Colombia

The prison population in Latin America continues to grow. Is restorative justice a viable alternative to redress this situation?

January 26, 2021

Egypt: abused and denied heath care, prisoners’ lives at risk

News

Africa Coronavirus Pre-trial detention Access to legal rights Justice Health Material conditions Overcrowding Torture Violence Egypt

Amnesty International said in a new damning report today highlighting how prison authorities’ callousness has led or contributed to deaths in custody and irreparable harm to prisoners’ health.

January 26, 2021

France: indiscriminate surveillance

Interview

Crises Pre-trial detention Europe Facilities France

There are 1,500 individuals who are identified as “radicalised” prisoners. How are they evaluated? By whom? What is their pre-trial detention like?

January 20, 2021

Europe: coronavirus, prison fever / 2021

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 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? — Update 31/12/2021

January 20, 2021

Americas: coronavirus, prison fever / 2021

News

Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 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? — Update 31/12/2021

January 20, 2021

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 31…

January 20, 2021

Middle East: coronavirus, prison fever / 2021

News

Coronavirus Middle East Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 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? — Update 31/12/2021

January 18, 2021

Africa: coronavirus, prison fever / 2021

News

Africa Coronavirus Health Material conditions Protest

The Covid-19 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? — Update 31/12/2021

January 7, 2021

France : “je me dois de vous dire que la dite réinsertion est un combat de tous les jours”

News

Europe Access to legal rights Discipline Justice Protest Rehabilitation France

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

January 7, 2021

France : les suicides à la prison marseillaise des Baumettes ne sont pas une fatalité

News

Europe Justice Health Mental health Suicide Violence France

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

January 7, 2021

France: mon Noël en prison, au temps de la Covid-19

News

Coronavirus Culture Women Europe Material conditions Social ties France

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