Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

December 12, 2019

USA: prison health care costs are higher than ever in Texas. Many point to an aging prison population.

News

America North America Health United States

Although there are fewer people in prison than there were a decade ago, costs have surged along with the share of inmates who are older — and sicker.

December 11, 2019

USA: transgender inmate ruling could change prison policy

News

America North America LGBTQI United States

Nevada must comply with a recent federal appeals court ruling requiring that inmates receive state-funded gender confirmation surgery.

December 11, 2019

USA: the push to rein in the $1.2bn prison phone industry

News

America North America Social ties United States

Phone calls to family are vital to inmates’ morale and relationships, but many can’t afford the high rates and fees.

December 11, 2019

USA: "Capitalisme carcéral" : la prison du futur sera partout

News

America North America United States

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

December 11, 2019

USA: how old is too old for prison?

News

America North America United States

Last week, Illinois freed the Starved Rock killer at age 80. Is continuing to house prisoners his age an aid to public safety, or just a money suck?

December 10, 2019

USA: trans felons want lifetime ban on name change removed

News

America North America LGBTQI United States

A group of transgender plaintiffs sued the state of Illinois for the right to change their legal name despite past felony convictions.

December 10, 2019

Sight — 7/12

Inside Outside

America North America South America Women Asia Europe Long-term prisoners

Each month, the photographer Bertrand Gaudillère creates an image or chooses one from his archives. Prison Insider sends it to a dozen participants, prisoners around the world.They are in Argentina, in the United States of America, in France, in Switzerland, in Guatemala, in Ukraine, in Colombia, i…

December 9, 2019

Canada: une cour ontarienne entendra une contestation judiciaire

News

America North America Canada

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

December 7, 2019

Argentina: piden intervención de la ONU por falta de comida en las cárceles

News

America South America Material conditions Argentina

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

December 5, 2019

USA: helping women exit the prison system

News

America North America Women United States

“We think that individuals are ‘bad’ people instead of understanding that the system doesn’t create an environment for them to flourish once they leave prison”

December 3, 2019

USA: what happens when prison "lifers" get a chance at healing and redemption?

News

America North America United States

In California, a prison program run by people once sentenced to life shows how even the most serious offenders are more than the worst things they’ve done.

December 2, 2019

USA: the rising rates of women in prison is an epidemic

News

America North America Women United States

Women are the fastest-growing population of inmates in the United States. And what they’re being sentenced for may surprise you.

November 28, 2019

United States of America: cheese on a trap

Testimonial

America North America Long-term prisoners Justice Drugs United States

Qwantay will be released in 2034. Prison Insider asked him what his first day in prison was like. This is what he told us.

November 27, 2019

Paraguay: "sed de derechos" expone el déficit de acceso al agua en cárceles

News

America South America Material conditions Paraguay

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

November 27, 2019

Mexico: unos 200 presos realizan una huelga de hambre en la cárcel de Las Flores

News

America Central America and the Caribbean Mexico

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

November 25, 2019

USA: how this prison collaborated on a larger-than-life work of art

News

America North America United States

French artist JR worked with California prisoners to create his latest installation.

November 22, 2019

Haiti: mutiny over cooking charcoal in Haiti prison led to gang rapes, human-rights groups say

News

America Central America and the Caribbean Protest Violence Haiti

It started around noon, when male detainees inside a prison for men and women north of Haiti’s capital heard there was no charcoal or propane gas to cook their food, and began violently protesting prison conditions and attempting to escape.

November 20, 2019

USA: former inmate alleges misuse of specialized New York prison cell

News

America North America United States

The secure room, which has no running water and no bathroom facility, is used by prison staff to monitor the bowel movements of inmates suspected of hiding contraband in their body cavities.

November 19, 2019

USA: les gardiens de prison de Jeffrey Epstein inculpés

News

America North America United States

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

November 19, 2019

USA: Artist JR teamed up with current and former inmates to create a mural at a supermax prison outside LA

News

America North America Mental health United States

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

November 15, 2019

USA: the battle for voting rights in the age of mass incarceration

News

America North America United States

Ex-prisoners are getting their voting rights back. But the backlash has already started.

November 13, 2019

Mexico: condena en libertad, efectos del sistema penal en familiares

News

America Central America and the Caribbean Social ties Mexico

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

November 13, 2019

Venezuela: presos toman como rehenes a guardias en cárcel de Táchira por falta de comida

News

America South America Material conditions Venezuela

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

November 12, 2019

USA: Oklahomans launch new petition to reduce prison population

News

America North America United States

A group working to reduce Oklahoma’s prison population launched an initiative petition on Tuesday that could lead to the release of hundreds more inmates.