Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 30, 2021

Venezuela: limitaciones de movilidad durante cuarentena radical impiden que familiares lleven alimentos a sus detenidos

News

Coronavirus South America Health Material conditions Social ties Venezuela

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

March 22, 2021

COVID-19 pandemic exposes how little we know about prison conditions globally

News

Coronavirus North America South America Europe Material conditions

“The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons”, novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

March 18, 2021

Managing uncertainty in prison: diverse responses to COVID-19

Analysis Thematic paper

Africa Coronavirus Crises Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Europe Material conditions Social ties

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Argentina: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Material conditions Activities Social ties Argentina

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Argentinian authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Chile : Managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Health Material conditions Protest Activities Social ties Work Chile

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Chilean authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Costa Rica: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Material conditions Activities Social ties Costa Rica

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Costa Rican authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 18, 2021

Brazil: managing uncertainty

Analysis

Coronavirus South America Material conditions Activities Social ties Brazil

As the COVID-19 outbreaks around the world suprised most governments, how did the Brazilian authorities respond to the crisis behind the bars? Were prison authorities prepared to avoid the spread of the virus? Which measures were taken and how did them impact prisoners’ lives?

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: prison riots leave 79 dead, including 34 in Cuenca. Gang wars result in beheadings, dismemberments

News

South America Drugs Protest Violence Ecuador

“This is a human slaughterhouse,” is how a national police captain described the scene as he entered a high security area of Cuenca’s Turi prison following tuesday’s riot. “It is the most terrible thing I have ever witnessed as a police officer.”

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: President declares state of emergency following deadly prison riots

News

South America Protest Violence Ecuador

Officials in Ecuador say order has been restored at prisons in three cities, where authorities said at least 75 inmates died in riots between rival gangs. President Lenín Moreno declared the national prison system in a state of emergency and ordered stepped-up security measures.    Officials say au…

March 1, 2021

Argentina: en cumplimiento de un fallo de la CorteIDH, el SPF aprueba un nuevo protocolo de traslados de personas privadas de libertad

News

South America Access to legal rights Justice Facilities Social ties Argentina

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

March 1, 2021

Venezuela: detenidos de Policarirubana piden descongestionamiento

News

Coronavirus South America Health Overcrowding Venezuela

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

March 1, 2021

Venezuela: familiares de presos de Polimiranda deben llevar agua a diario para aseo y consumo

News

South America Health Material conditions Venezuela

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

March 1, 2021

Ecuador: violentos motines dejan más de 75 muertos en tres cárceles

News

South America Protest Overcrowding Violence Ecuador

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

February 25, 2021

Équateur : des mutineries dans trois prisons font 79 morts

News

South America Protest Violence Ecuador

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

February 24, 2021

Paraguay: six inmates die in a riot in Paraguay's main prison

News

South America Protest Violence Paraguay

Paraguayan Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday reported that six inmates died during a riot in Asuncion’s Tacumbu prison, as they demanded equal rights with the rest of the country’s penitentiaries.

February 12, 2021

Chile: interno de cárcel de La Serena se suicida tras acosos de gendarmes por su orientación sexual

News

South America LGBTQI Access to legal rights Torture Violence Chile

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

February 12, 2021

Chile: siguen los abusos en gendarmería, ahora torturan a interna trans en cárcel de Arica

News

South America LGBTQI Access to legal rights Torture Violence Chile

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

February 3, 2021

Venezuela: Amnistía Internacional nombra presos de conciencia a cinco miembros de la ONG humanitaria Azul Positivo

News

South America Access to legal rights Protest Venezuela

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

February 3, 2021

Chile: cárcel y mujeres, la urgencia de pensar un sistema penitenciario con enfoque de género

News

South America Women LGBTQI Access to legal rights Social ties Chile

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

February 3, 2021

Chile: mientras los malls se llenan, mujeres privadas de libertad llevan 9 meses de pandemia sin ver a sus hijas e hijos

News

South America Women Social ties Chile

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

February 3, 2021

Chile: “que puedan manifestar el género asumido” y reclusión segmentada, el nuevo protocolo de gendarmería para internos trans

News

South America LGBTQI Access to legal rights Justice Chile

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

February 2, 2021

Brazil: Covid-19 aggravating the jail crisis

News

Coronavirus South America Protest Overcrowding Violence Brazil

As the largest and most inhabited country in South America, Brazil has also the largest population of people in jail.

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.

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.