Europe

January 1, 2020

News

Coronavirus: Prison Fever / 2021

Africa Coronavirus North America Central America and the Caribbean South America Asia Elderly prisoners Europe Middle East Oceania Health Mental health Material conditions Activities Social ties

The virus 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? Here is an overview. — Update 07/10/2021 Read more

October 18, 2021

France: for moral sociology in prison

Interview

Europe Material conditions Overcrowding Violence Rehabilitation France

How can we consider prison critique? What tools can be used to adapt the role of prisons and the meaning of sentences? Is there hope for a successful outcome? Read more

October 14, 2021

France: seen in the press / 2021

News

Europe France

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. Read more

October 14, 2021

United Kingdom: seen in the press / 2021

News

Europe 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. Read more

October 13, 2021

Lithuania: converting prison into migrant reception centre

News

Europe Facilities Lithuania

At least 700 people will live in the so-called Kybartai Alien Registration Centre after it was renamed in late September.The prisoners who were held there up until recently, have been relocated to other facilities around the country. The hundreds of single men who will now stay in the Kybartai prison…

Source — Euro News

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October 12, 2021

Russie : un lanceur d’alerte dénonce un système de viols organisés en prison

News

Europe Torture Violence Russia

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

October 11, 2021

A very disturbing situation

Interview

Africa Europe Middle East Torture Violence

The torture and abuse of prisoners have become commonplace over the years. How did these excesses come about? A recently published report takes up this topic. Read more

October 7, 2021

Global Prison Trends 2021

Report

Africa Coronavirus Women Asia Minors Europe Middle East Oceania Health Material conditions Overcrowding Death penalty

More than eleven million people are imprisoned around the world. Of this number, 70% are awaiting trial, a percentage that has been continuously increasing since 2000. Read more

September 28, 2021

Malta: when it comes to prison, the statistics are very telling

News

Europe Material conditions Overcrowding Malta

We have too many prisoners: 154 prisoners per 100,000 of the population. The European average is 117. In Norway it’s 63 prisoners per 100,000. We are inching closer to the countries with the largest prison populations: Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey… all countries with rubbish democratic credentials. There…

Source — Time of Malta

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September 27, 2021

Global prison crisis

Interview

Africa Coronavirus Asia Europe Middle East Oceania Overcrowding

The world prison population is still increasing. How does the COVID-19 crisis differ from other ongoing or future crises? Are prison environments doomed to be in perpetual crisis? Read more

September 27, 2021

Belgium: a parent in prison

Interview

Europe Social ties Belgium

The Relais Enfants-Parents (REP) association works to maintain the relationship between a child and their imprisoned parent. How does this mediation take place? Does it allow for in-person visits? Interview. Read more

September 27, 2021

Belgium: regular crisis and health crisis

Interview

Coronavirus Europe Health Overcrowding Belgium

Belgian prisons, already criticised for their dilapidation and incarceration conditions, have been closed off since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. What measures have been taken to deal with the health crisis? Read more

September 23, 2021

Suisse : Anne-Catherine Menétrey-Savary, «Ce qui me révolte le plus, c'est l'enfermement sans limite et sans perspective»

Europe Switzerland

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

September 16, 2021

España : el último insumiso civil entra en prisión

News

Europe Spain

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

September 9, 2021

Belgium: “prison isn’t a place for care”

Interview

Europe Mental health Belgium

Incarcerated people are often in worse physical and mental health than the general population. I.Care has been visiting prisons since 2015. Read more

September 7, 2021

France: a deceptive protection

Interview

Women Europe Justice Violence France

The proliferation of surveillance systems and an increased reliance on incarceration are meant to curb violence. But what are the implications of this kind of security? Françoise Vergès is a feminist, anti-racist author. Her most recent work, entitled Une théorie féministe de la violence. Pour une politique… Read more

August 5, 2021

North Macedonia: cramped prison conditions, detainee ill treatment and opaque prison management among longstanding concerns for anti-torture committee

News

Europe Torture Violence North Macedonia

The CPT noted cramped, unhygienic and decrepit conditions of detention in the so called ‘ambulanta’ unit, the closed-regime wings of Idrizovo Prison and the unrenovated wings of Skopje Prison, based on an “ad hoc visit” to the country from 7-9 December 2020. Published with the Government response, the…

Source — Council of Europe

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July 27, 2021

España: la violencia de género, tercera causa de ingreso en prisión

News

Women Europe Violence Spain

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

July 15, 2021

Malta: Prime minister has full faith In prison director after inmate’s death

News

Europe Health Mental health Drugs Malta

Speaking in a press conference earlier today, Abela said that he also backed the magisterial inquiry into the incident – and would wait for its conclusion before taking a position on the fatal incident. A magisterial inquiry was opened soon after the inmate’s suicide attempt on 16th June. She had last…

Source — Lovinmalta

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July 1, 2021

Italia: Italia investigará sus cárceles tras la difusión de un vídeo que exhibe las palizas de oficiales a los presos

News

Europe Torture Violence Italy

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

July 1, 2021

Belgium: seen in the press / 2021

News

Europe 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. Read more

July 1, 2021

España: la Comunitat tendrá el mayor psiquiátrico penitenciario de España, con 500 internos

News

Europe Mental health Material conditions Facilities Spain

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

June 29, 2021

Italia: 52 warders arrested over prison lockdown violence

News

Coronavirus Europe Protest Torture Italy

Italian police on Monday arrested 52 prison officers on suspicion of mistreating prisoners in quelling a riot sparked by a case of COVID-19 among inmates in the middle of the first virus lockdown last year. Naples police sent in special penitentiary police forces after the April 6 riot at the jail at…

Source — ANSA

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June 15, 2021

England and Wales: short prison sentences, directions for future reform

Analysis Opinion

Europe Long-term prisoners Justice Overcrowding Social ties Rehabilitation United Kingdom

ICPR and Prison Insider asked several experts worldwide to share their insights in the framework of the project ‘Understanding and reducing the use of imprisonment in 10 countries’. Helen Mills discusses the vexed problem of short prison sentences. Read more