Information, topic by topic, on prisons across the world

June 8, 2022

France: everyday madness

Testimonial

Europe Mental health Drugs Facilities Suicide France

Like at many other facilities, no two days are the same at the Baumettes Regional Mental Health Department for Prisons (Marseille). Eric Kania has been a psychiatrist there for over 20 years. He told us about his day-to-day. Read more

April 14, 2022

Walling up madness

Analysis Comparative study

Europe Access to legal rights Mental health Drugs Material conditions Suicide

More than 40 % of prisoners in Italy suffer from at least one mental disorder, about 30% in Spain, 35% in England, and 60% in the Netherlands. Does prison make you go mad? This is no doubt true for some. Prison Insider provides an overview of practices in eight countries. Read more

February 24, 2022

France: Psychiatry at the service of security

Interview

Europe Health Mental health Suicide France

Fresnes, Fleury-Mérogis, la Santé: for 25 years, Cyrille Canetti witnessed the shift of prison psychiatry. (Critical) interview about psychiatry and prison. Read more

January 10, 2022

United States: inadequate mental health treatment

Analysis Opinion

North America Mental health Material conditions Suicide United States

Dr. Tasnova Malek works in the National Suicidal Prevention Center and as a medical reviewer for Sunshine Behavioral Health. Here she discusses the prevalence of mental illness among prisoners and highlights the inability of prison facilities to meet their needs. Read Dr. Malek’s insights. Read more

December 6, 2021

Suisse : Hans Wolff, “Avec la pandémie, le risque suicidaire a explosé en prison“

News

Coronavirus Europe Mental health Suicide Switzerland

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

November 25, 2021

Uruguay: Récord de fallecidos en las cárceles, casi 7 por mes

News

South America Suicide Violence Uruguay

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

November 23, 2021

DRC: Lack of Access to Healthcare

Report

Africa Health Material conditions Suicide Overcrowding Congo - Kinshasa

The Congolese Prison Observatory published a report in December 2019. It reported six deaths and one suicide attempt that year within this prison.

Source — Observatoire Congolais des Prisons

October 12, 2021

India: death rate up, jails to get ‘suicide watchers’

News

Asia Suicide India

The Punjab Prisons is training a unique squad of “suicide watchers” as a study of suicides between 2017 and 2019 found that nearly 42 per cent of the victims died by suicide within a month of incarceration. Fifteen per cent could not last even 48 hours in jail.The squad comprising jail staff and se…

Source — Tribune in India

September 10, 2021

India: rules laid down to prevent inmate suicide in jail

News

Asia Mental health Suicide India

Preventive measures could have been taken to protect former prisoners who committed suicide, said a 16-point circular sent by the director general to all jail authorities on Wednesday. According to this order, all wells inside the jail should be fenced withgrated doors and locks. The jail authorit…

Source — The Times Of India

June 24, 2021

United States: addressing the structural inequalities underlying a failing prison health system

Analysis Opinion

North America Mental health Drugs Material conditions Suicide United States

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’. Homer Venters is a physician and epidemiologist working at the intersection of incarceration, health and human rights… Read more

June 9, 2021

France : en prison, on se suicide dans l’indifférence

News

Europe Mental health Suicide Violence France

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

May 27, 2021

España: los suicidios en las cárceles aumentan con la pandemia

News

Europe Mental health Suicide Spain

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

May 4, 2021

Kazakhstan: two inmates in Kazakh prison swallow spoons to protest conditions

News

Asia Material conditions Suicide Violence Kazakhstan

The regional State Penitentiary Service said on April 25 that the incident had taken place four days earlier, adding that the two inmates were provided with medical assistance and their “current health state is satisfactory.” Inmates in Kazakhstan’s penitentiaries often maim themselves to protest…

Source — Radio free Europe

February 1, 2021

Canada : bannir les courtes peines de prison pour éviter des suicides

News

North America Pre-trial detention Justice Mental health Suicide Alternatives Canada

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

February 1, 2021

Suisse : l'aide au suicide pour les prisonniers envisagée

News

Europe Access to legal rights Justice Mental health Suicide Switzerland

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

January 7, 2021

France : les suicides à la prison marseillaise des Baumettes ne sont pas une fatalité

News

Europe Justice Health Mental health Suicide Violence France

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

December 7, 2020

United States: mental health crisis in California’s lock-ups worsens with Covid-19

News

Coronavirus North America Mental health Suicide United States

Rather than improve under a class action lawsuit dating back to 1990 (now Plata v. Newsom) and seeking constitutionally acceptable mental health care for prisoners, conditions continue to slide, exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Mental health problems are especially egregious at CDCR’s Ca…

Source — Prison legal news

November 23, 2020

España: el protocolo antisuicidios en las cárceles

News

Europe Mental health Suicide Spain

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

September 17, 2020

France : suicides en prison

News

Europe Mental health Suicide Social ties Religion France

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

June 4, 2020

USA: solitary confinement is fueling New York's prison suicide crisis

News

North America Mental health Suicide United States

On average, someone attempts suicide in one of New York State’s prisons every other day. And 43 percent of those suicide attempts occur in the state’s notorious solitary confinement units — the Special Housing Unit, or SHUs. Solitary confinement is also linked to higher rates of death by suicide, a…

Source — Solitary Watch

April 9, 2020

France: en 2019, ils sont morts en prison

News

Coronavirus Europe Health Mental health Suicide France

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

February 27, 2020

USA: new BJS report reveals staggering number of preventable deaths in local jails

News

North America Health Suicide United States

A new Bureau of Justice Statistics report reveals that over 1,000 people died in local jails in 2016, underscoring the dangers of jail incarceration. Most troublingly, the report finds at least half of these deaths are preventable, with suicide remaining the leading cause of death.

Source — Prison Policy Initiative

November 13, 2019

UK: security firm to monitor prisoner vulnerability at Kilmarnock Prison in bid to prevent suicide and self harm

News

Europe Mental health Suicide United Kingdom

Changes in behaviour are highlighted to prison officers – allowing them to intervene before a prisoner self-harms or attempts suicide.

Source — Daily Record

October 13, 2019

France: face aux suicides en prison, les détenus s’entraident pour libérer la parole

News

Europe Suicide France

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