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March 18, 2020

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Coronavirus: Prison Fever

Africa Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean Pre-trial detention South America Asia Europe Middle East Health Material conditions Protest Activities

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? Here is an overview. — Update 31/03/20 Read more

April 7, 2020

Spain: cárceles registran 147 contagiados por coronavirus

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Coronavirus Europe Health Spain

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

April 7, 2020

Estonia: prison guards to switch to five-day schedules during emergency situation

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Coronavirus Europe Health Estonia

In order to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, prison guards in Estonia are switching to a 24/5 schedule beginning Saturday, under which they will work five days in a row and spend their time off after work likewise on site at the prison, the Ministry of Justice said. Experts have recommended…

Source — ERR

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April 6, 2020

Spain: la ONU urge a liberar los presos "porque las cárceles no son seguras"

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Coronavirus Europe Health Spain

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April 6, 2020

Uruguay: el hacinamiento y la propia situación edilicia en las cárceles hacen a las personas en situación de encierro más vulnerables ante el COVID-19

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Coronavirus South America Health Uruguay

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

April 6, 2020

Argentina: la inquietante versión de los presos tras los motines en Santa Fe

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Coronavirus South America Health Protest Violence Argentina

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

April 6, 2020

Spain: las cárceles, una "olla a presión"

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Coronavirus Europe Health Spain

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

April 6, 2020

Australia: 'urgent action' needed over high proportion of Indigenous women in prison, report says

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Women Oceania Australia

The number of Indigenous women in custody has been called “one of the most challenging human rights issues facing Australia”. Research out today has shed new light on Indigenous women in the criminal justice system in New South Wales. It found the number of women in NSW jails between March 2013 and June…

Source — ABC News

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April 6, 2020

India: Kerala government counts losses as COVID-19 scare hits sale of prison food

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Coronavirus Asia Health India

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Covid-19 outbreak has affected all sorts of businesses and the Prisons Department in Kerala is no different. The department’s prestigious initiative ‘Food for Freedom’ has taken a hit owing to the decrease in demand forcing the authorities to scale down production. The food production…

Source — The New Indian Express

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April 6, 2020

USA: prison outbreak affects health of entire state

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Coronavirus North America Health United States

Absent immediate action, COVID-19 will overrun Connecticut’s jails and prisons. Connecticut’s Department of Correction has now confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the prison population after announcing that three DOC officers tested positive for the virus last week. This affects us all and the governor,…

Source — Connecticut Post

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April 6, 2020

USA: prison telecom giant offers aid to prisoners - for a price

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Coronavirus North America Social ties United States

As prisons and jails nationwide suspend visitations to slow the spread of COVID-19, the country’s largest private providers of communications services to inmates are being lauded by corrections officials for offering to help a vulnerable population stay in touch with family and friends. In a March 17…

Source — The American Prospect

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April 6, 2020

Europe: EU courts still issuing verdicts despite pandemic

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Coronavirus Europe Justice Health

A lone judge will read out 16 verdicts in an almost empty chamber in the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg at 9.30AM on Thursday (26 March). One senior jurist, called an advocate general, will also read out non-binding legal opinions on other cases. A second judge will read out 12 more verdicts at 11AM…

Source — EU Observer

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April 3, 2020

France: "ça risque d’être une hécatombe", la grande crainte d’une épidémie de Covid-19 en prison

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Coronavirus Europe Health France

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

April 3, 2020

France: "je pense tout le temps au virus"

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Coronavirus Europe Health France

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

April 3, 2020

France: des détenus "dans leur cellule 23 heures sur 24" explique Adeline Hazan

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Coronavirus Europe Health France

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March 31, 2020

Cyprus: cabinet to approve measures to mitigate prison overcrowding

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Coronavirus Europe Health Cyprus

The cabinet is on Tuesday expected to approve a series of measures to cut down on overcrowding a the Nicosia central prisons to curb any spread of the coronavirus. The issue was the main topic of discussion during a meeting between President Nicos Anastasiades and justice minister Giorgos Savvides on…

Source — Cyprus mail

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March 31, 2020

Belgium: "Jamais je n'ai vécu pire situation", témoigne un détenu

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Coronavirus Europe Health Material conditions

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

March 31, 2020

France: "Ce que j'ai fait ne mérite pas que je crève ici !"

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Coronavirus Europe Health

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

March 30, 2020

Luxembourg: Schrassig detention centre reduces visits to minimum

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Coronavirus Europe Health Luxembourg

The prison has not yet recorded a case of coronavirus. The management hopes to keep it that way as many inmates suffer from health issues. Prison visits will be reduced to a minimum from 16 March onward. Prison officials explained in a statement that there will not be more than 25 visits a week. A maximum…

Source — RTL

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March 30, 2020

Bosnia-Herzegovina: convicts of Zenica prison sewed over 2,000 protective masks in only two days

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Coronavirus Europe Health Activities Bosnia & Herzegovina

In just two days, the convicts of the Zenica Correctional Institution sewed close to 1,500 protective masks to make available to those in need. As Klix.ba news portal has learned, ten convicts have worked hard over the past two days to sew as many masks as they plan to donate to the Government of the…

Source — Sarajevo Times

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March 30, 2020

Albania: free 600 prisoners as pandemic precaution

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Coronavirus Europe Health Albania

The government of Albania plans to temporarily release hundreds of prisoners convicted of lesser crimes and some who are elderly and suffering from chronic diseases that can make them vulnerable. Justice Minister Etilda Gjonaj said on Tuesday that about 600 prisoners are expected to be released from…

Source — Balkan Insight

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March 30, 2020

Germany: state to release some 1,000 prisoners due to coronavirus

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Coronavirus Europe Health Germany

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s most populous state North-Rhine Westphalia plans to release as many as 1,000 prisoners in order to free up cells to be used as quarantine rooms out of concern that coronavirus could spread unchecked in jails, its justice minister said. The plan, first reported by Focus magazine,…

Source — Reuters

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March 30, 2020

Spain: first coronavirus death in Madrid prison in and 38 correctional officers test positive for coronavirus

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Coronavirus Europe Health Spain

THE prisoner had underlying chronic illnesses and was serving time at the Estremera prison in Madrid. A Latin American woman of 78 years of age has been the first prisoner to die in Spain due to the coronavirus, after she was evacuated on March 20 to the Arganda del Rey Hospital in Madrid. Furthermore,…

Source — EuroWeekly

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March 30, 2020

Malta: PN suggests temporary prisons to ease overcrowding and virus risk at Corradino

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Coronavirus Europe Health Overcrowding Malta

The government should consider setting up temporary prisons to ease overcrowding at Corradino prison and the related risk of the spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus, the shadow minister for home affairs said on Thursday. Beppe Fenech Adami said the prison authorities should segregate elderly prisoners and…

Source — Times Malta

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