Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

March 16, 2023

Ireland: Prisoners to be given access to fertility treatment

News

Europe Health Ireland

Prisoners are set to be given access to fertility treatment while behind bars.

March 16, 2023

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Commuting a prison sentence into a fine is possible in Republika Srpska

News

Europe Justice Bosnia & Herzegovina

A sentence of imprisonment that does not exceed one year of imprisonment will be replaced by a fine at the request of the convicted person

March 13, 2023

Germany: neither incarcerated nor free

Interview

Europe Health Mental health Germany

The German prison population has been decreasing since 2004, but not the number of people deprived of their liberty: nearly 13,000 of them are detained in forensic psychiatric hospitals. How can this be explained?

March 9, 2023

Problems of substance

Analysis Thematic paper

North America Europe Health Mental health Drugs Material conditions

Many people are living with addiction in prison. They face great difficulties. Drugs are an integral part of the overcrowded and unsanitary prison systems, which increases the risks inherent in drug use. How is drug addiction experienced behind bars?

March 9, 2023

Belgium: a tough journey

Interview

Europe Health Mental health Drugs Belgium

Prisons often act as a conduit for worsening drug use, yet prisoners are confronted with numerous barriers when trying to access help.Ambulatoire Forest discussed its psychosocial support programme specifically designed for offenders struggling with substance use.

March 9, 2023

Switzerland: detect, treat and support

Interview

Europe Health Mental health Drugs Switzerland

The risk of transmitting and contracting sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections is particularly high in prisons. However, there are solutions to prevent their spread and to support those affected. Interview.

March 9, 2023

France: beyond the stigma

Interview

Europe Discipline Health Mental health Drugs France

They are banned, but present nonetheless; denying the presence of illicit substances inside prison walls is dangerous from a medical and health point of view. Doctors of the World explained its approach.

March 9, 2023

France: drugs in prison, an open secret

Interview

Europe Discipline Health Mental health Drugs France

A way for prisoners to cope with their sentence and a way for the administration to contain the prison population: is the circulation of drugs in everyone’s interest? Solenn Lebret-Dallaserra answered our questions.

March 7, 2023

France: "It's a topsy-turvy world"

Testimonial

Europe Material conditions Activities Work France

In January 2023, Raphaël M. was placed in a halfway house in Alsace. Five years earlier, he had been in the Strasbourg prison. He shares what he went through and his current experience. A two-part story.

February 24, 2023

Ukraine: 107 Mothers

Interview

Women Europe Social ties Ukraine

Between 2016 and 2020, filmmaker Peter Kerekes visited Odessa Prison close to 120 times to shoot the film 107 Mothers. Odessa was one of a handful of Ukrainian prisons that allow mothers to serve their sentence with their children. Interview.

February 15, 2023

Russia: prisoners of the battlefield

Interview

Crises Europe Violence Russia

The conflict in Ukraine also impacts the individuals incarcerated in Russia. Many of them have been recruited by the Wagner Group over the past few months to participate in the fighting. Dmitry Gurin from EPLN shared with us what they know about this recruitment campaign.

February 8, 2023

Poland: Prisoners beaten, suffocated and waterboarded

News

Europe Torture Violence Poland

Inmates at Barczewo prison have faced physical and mental torture, including beatings, suffocation and waterboarding, according to a new report.

February 3, 2023

France: "a change of tactics"

Interview

Crises Europe Justice Material conditions Facilities Overcrowding Alternatives France

In 2020, the French government was found to have violated the European Convention on Human Rights, due to demeaning detention conditions in French prisons. What is the state of affairs today? The National Human Rights Advisory Commission speaks on the issue.

January 25, 2023

Belgium: seen in the press / 2023

News

Women Europe LGBTQI Long-term prisoners Justice Health Mental health Material conditions Work Belgium

Violence, acts of protest, prison conditions, justice reforms: find out what is new about prisons and justice in this country. Prison Insider monitors the press on a regular basis. Change the language setting to French or Spanish to read other articles.

January 24, 2023

United Kingdom: seen in the press / 2023

News

Women Europe Justice Health Mental health Material conditions Overcrowding United Kingdom

Violence, acts of protest, prison conditions, justice reforms: find out what is new about prisons and justice in this country. Prison Insider monitors the press on a regular basis.

January 24, 2023

Netherlands: Ultra-secure prison to get its own courtroom

News

Europe Justice Facilities Netherlands

A courtroom will be built within the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) in Vught, where the country’s most serious convicted criminals and suspects are detained.

January 12, 2023

France: “Non-places"

Insights Focus

Europe Facilities France

Grégoire Korganow is a photographer. His series Périphéries (Surroundings) reveals the geography of incarceration in France: places in the middle of nowhere farther than the eye can see. He spoke with Prison Insider about one of his photographs.

January 11, 2023

Belarus: Former detainee speaks of torture

News

Europe Violence Belarus

In Belarus, daily detentions, torture, and beatings on political grounds have been going on for over two years.

January 2, 2023

Pre-trial detention Women Europe Minors Foreign prisoners LGBTQI Long-term prisoners Access to legal rights Discipline Justice Health Mental health Material conditions Suicide Overcrowding Torture Violence Activities Social ties Work Belgium

All there is to know about Congolese prisons in 2023. Key figures, life in detention, references: discover all the data gathered by Prison Insider.

December 30, 2022

France : prisons in 2022

Analysis

Pre-trial detention Women Europe Minors Foreign prisoners LGBTQI Long-term prisoners Access to legal rights Discipline Justice Health Mental health Material conditions Suicide Overcrowding Torture Violence Activities Social ties Work France

All there is to know about French prisons in 2022. Key figures, life in detention, references: discover all the data gathered by Prison Insider.

December 9, 2022

Suisse : des détenus accros à la prégabaline mettent les médecins sous pression

News

Europe Health Switzerland

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

December 8, 2022

Luxembourg: Third prison inaugurated

News

Europe Justice Luxembourg

The inauguration of the Sanem prison took place on Wednesday, in the presence of the Grand Duke. The facility will separate accused and convicted individuals in Luxembourg’s prison system.

December 8, 2022

España: Terapia entre arcilla y pinceles en la prisión

News

Europe Activities Rehabilitation Spain

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

December 1, 2022

Mujeres en prisión: una población vulnerable

News

Women Europe Justice Spain

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