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Spotlight:
Global Prison Trends 2021
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Global Prison Trends 2021 is out now - browse the report online or download the full report or Executive summary (in English or Spanish, with more languages coming soon).
This seventh edition of PRI’s annual flagship report, published with the Thailand Institute of Justice, identifies key trends and challenges in prison systems worldwide, and exposes the impact of the global pandemic on prison populations and staff. The report shows how millions of people in prison have suffered over the past year as a result of restrictions and preventive measures, at a huge cost to their mental health and human rights.
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The report was launched on 12 May at an online event, which you can watch now in English or Spanish. Hear from Ruth Dreifuss, Former President of Switzerland and member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, among other great speakers. |
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Expert meeting on the impact of COVID-19 on alternatives to imprisonment
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Today (28 May) PRI convened an online Experts Meeting as part of our current project on alternatives to imprisonment and post-release support during the pandemic, funded by the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation (IPPF). The meeting was attended by about 40 practitioners, academics, NGOs and policy experts from 18 countries, including project partners from University of Coimbra and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, who actively discussed the impact of the pandemic on community service orders, services used by probation clients and those released from prison, preparing people for release, and the work and wellbeing of probation staff. |
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PRI leads training for prison leadership in CAR
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This week in Central African Republic (CAR), PRI led a training programme for penitentiary leadership on the design and management of vocational training as part of rehabilitation programmes for people in prison. The training programme was conducted with support from MINUSCA, the multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation in CAR.
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New Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering
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In his last report to the UN General Assembly in 2016, former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan E. Méndez called for the adoption of new guidelines to replace coercive interrogation by law enforcement in favour of rapport-based interviewing and the implementation of proper safeguards. PRI contributed as a member of the Advisory Council and this month we welcome the finalisation of the ‘Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering’, to be known as the ‘Mendez Principles’.
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30th session of the UN Crime Commission
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The 30th session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (the 'Crime Commission') - the principle policymaking body of the UN in this field which convenes annually - was held in Vienna and online this month. PRI held several online side events during the Commission, which are now available to be viewed online:
COVID-19 in prisons: vaccinations and responses: PRI, WHO (Europe) Health in Prisons Programme (HIPP), and UNODC came together to present tools and recommendations to prepare, prevent and manage COVID-19 in places of detention, including a new advocacy briefing on why prisons should be included in national COVID-19 vaccination plans.
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Tackling criminalisation of the poor and most marginalised: organised by PRI, Open Society Foundations, The International Legal Foundation and Fair Trials. Speakers from various regions discussed successful strategies to overcome the criminalisation of petty offences which target minorities, the poorest members of society and other marginalised groups.
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