PRI worked in partnership with criminal justice agencies and civil society organisations in Central, East and Southern Africa to reduce pre-trial detention, encourage the use of alternatives to custody, promote diversionary mechanisms from the criminal justice system and assist with prison management reforms. PRI has also worked with regional bodies, including the Conference of Central, Eastern, Southern Africa heads of Correctional Services (CESCA) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR).

PRI supported the development of the Paralegal Advisory Service (PAS) as a model for legal aid in criminal matters. The scheme involved trained paralegals in order to provide appropriate legal aid services to poor people in conflict with the law - in prison, police custody and at court. The impact of PAS has been noted beyond the prison walls. Case-flow within the criminal justice system has improved, judiciary visit prisons and screen the remand caseload more frequently, the police are less prone to ‘dump’ people in prison pending lengthy investigations and relatives have a reliable source of information and assistance.

PRI continued to support the development of alternatives to custody for non-serious offenders. This work started in 1995 with the Zimbabwe National Committee on Community Service. PRI supported community service programmes in the region through the provision of information and educational material, training and advocacy work, as well as sharing expertise.

PRI promotes a rights-based approach to prison management. PRI provided technical assistance to the prison farms in Malawi to feed the ever growing prison population, encourage dynamic security and promote the use of open facilities for eligible detainees. PRI also partnered with a Sudanese NGO to develop human rights training material for prison staff in Sudan.

PRI Resources and Publications 

A Model for Good Prison Management in Africa

Paralegal Aid Clinics:  A handbook for paralegals working in prisons

Energising the Criminal Justice System in Malawi

Rabbit Production Guidelines for the Malawi Prison Service

HIV/AIDS in Malawi Prisons

Community Service in Africa: an alternative to imprisonment

Path to Justice

Seeds of Freedom