Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

Insights Testimonial

October 7, 2025

Connecting Stories Beyond Bars

America Pre-trial detention Women Europe Long-term prisoners Access to legal rights Mental health Material conditions Violence Social ties

‘Connecting Stories Beyond Bars - The invisible impact of prison on relatives’ is a six-episode docuseries produced with Acifad (Argentina), Amparar (Brasil), Relais Famille (Canada), OIP-SF (France), Documenta (Mexico) and POPS (UK). Read

July 15, 2026

Malta: investigation needed into excessive heat at the prisons, impact on incarcerated people

News

Europe Material conditions Malta

University lecturer calls for minimum standards governing ventilation, cooling, hydration, and heat emergency management.

July 3, 2026

Bulgaria: the Committee of Ministers welcomes substantial improvement of prison conditions

News

Europe Material conditions Bulgaria

At its Human Rights meeting on 11-13 June, the Committee of Ministers welcomed the significant progress achieved by the Bulgarian authorities in eradicating prison overcrowding and substantially improving material conditions of detention.

June 18, 2026

England : deaths within two weeks of release

News

Europe Mental health United Kingdom

Growing number of people in England and Wales are being released into homelessness with little support

May 12, 2026

Scotland: “A state of permanent hyperawareness”

Testimonial

Europe Health Mental health Material conditions Facilities Social ties Rehabilitation United Kingdom

John has been incarcerated for nearly twenty years since the age of 16. Now a husband, a father, and a PhD researcher, he shares his story with us — from his time behind bars to how prison still impacts him today. Interview.

May 11, 2026

Belgium: prison staff strike over overcrowding

News

Europe Overcrowding Violence Belgium

Prison staff across Belgium began a nationwide strike at 6am on Monday, protesting against severe overcrowding, rising violence and heavy workloads.

May 5, 2026

United Kingdom: prison has record for number of working incarcerated people

News

Europe Work United Kingdom

A prison has set a UK record with the number of its incarcerated people working while behind bars, it has been revealed.

May 4, 2026

Greece: 11 arrested after deadly Serres prison clash

News

Europe Violence Greece

Eleven incarcerated people have been arrested after a deadly confrontation inside a Greek prison left two incarcerated men dead, with authorities investigating how weapons were obtained and security measures were breached during the incident.

April 30, 2026

Ireland: prison officers to be issued with body cameras, batons amid rise in violence

News

Europe Discipline Overcrowding Violence Ireland

The Director of the Irish Prison Service has said prison officers are to be issued with body worn cameras and batons for personal protection later this year to deal with the increased levels of violence in the prisons.

April 30, 2026

Russia: at least 6 political prisoners died in custody in the first 4 months of 2026

News

Crises Asia Europe Health Mental health Suicide Russia

According to data from the human rights organization Memorial, more than 5,000 people in Russia are victims of political repression. At least 68 of them have died in custody over the past decade and a half, including at least six since the start of 2026.

April 27, 2026

France: prison guards call for strike action as overcrowding crisis deepens

News

Europe Overcrowding France

France’s prisons are edging closer to a breaking point, with one of the country’s main prison guard unions calling for strike action to force what it says are long-overdue reforms.

April 24, 2026

United Kingdom: incarcerated people evacuated from prison building due to fire

News

Crises Europe Facilities United Kingdom

Incarcerated people were evacuated from a prison building at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk after a fire broke out.

April 22, 2026

Armenia: suicide attempt at Armavir prison amid growing concerns

News

Asia Europe Mental health Suicide Overcrowding Armenia

On March 20, an incarcerated person at the Armavir penitentiary institution attempted suicide by hanging, drawing renewed attention to deteriorating conditions and safety standards in Armenia’s prison system.

April 20, 2026

Belarus: UN experts warn of "deeply alarming detention practices"

News

Europe Discipline Health Mental health Material conditions Suicide Torture Social ties Belarus

United Nations experts expressed concern over allegations of prolonged incommunicado detention and dire custody conditions in Belarus that may amount to torture.

April 15, 2026

Belgium: 750 incarcerated people forced to sleep on floor

News

Europe Material conditions Overcrowding Belgium

A record number of incarcerated people in Belgium are sleeping on the floor as prison overcrowding worsens, with 750 people currently without a bed, according to the ACOD Prisons trade union.

April 15, 2026

Russia: at 15, he became one of Russia’s youngest political prisoners. He now faces new charges

News

Crises Asia Europe Minors Russia

Arseny Turbin became one of the youngest political prisoners in Russia when he was arrested at age 15 in 2023.

April 13, 2026

Luxembourg: how country uses ankle monitors as alternative to prison

News

Europe Alternatives Luxembourg

15 people in Luxembourg are currently wearing an ankle monitor. Far from being purely a punitive measure, the device is seen as a step towards reintegrating people into society.

April 13, 2026

United Kingdom: mental health crisis in prisons getting worse, says Inspectorate

News

Europe Mental health United Kingdom

Prison inspectors have warned of a worsening crisis of people with severe mental health problems being trapped within prisons.

April 11, 2026

Russia: Russian listed by Memorial as political prisoner goes on hunger strike

News

Crises Asia Europe Health Material conditions Russia

A former Moscow district official serving a long prison sentence in Russia for what he says were trumped-up political charges has declared a “dry hunger strike”, refusing both food and water.

April 10, 2026

Sweden: country Prison and Probation Service to rent premises in Södertälje, Karlskoga, Gothenburg and Västervik

News

Europe Facilities Sweden

The government has decided that the Swedish Prison and Probation Service will rent premises in Södertälje, Karlskoga, Gothenburg and Västervik. Two new prisons will also be built in Värnamo and Trelleborg; the Trelleborg project has been planned for a long time.

April 3, 2026

Cyprus: prison full, Fitiris says

News

Asia Europe Facilities Overcrowding Cyprus

Cyprus’ prison and other holding facilities are full, Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said on Friday, though he did stress that the government is “trying to find solutions”.

March 24, 2026

Belgium: 147 incarcerated people sleeping on floor as Haren prison overcrowding persists

News

Europe Material conditions Overcrowding Belgium

Public sector union ACOD and the Federal Prison Service are once again sounding the alarm as the number of incarcerated people in Brussels prisons continues to rise significantly.

March 23, 2026

Cyrpus: new prison to be built in Mathiatis

News

Asia Europe Facilities Overcrowding Cyprus

A new central prison will be constructed on the outskirts of Mathiatis, following widespread overcrowding at existing facilities, justice minister Costas Fitiris confirmed to the House human rights committee.

March 19, 2026

United Kingdom: tens of thousands of incarcerated people in England and Wales at risk of cell fires

News

Europe Facilities United Kingdom

The government has reneged on a pledge to make all prison cells fire-safe or take them out of use by the end of next year, meaning tens of thousands of incarcerated people in England and Wales will remain at risk.