Blog

Centering lived experience: bridging drug policy and prison reform through peer‑led care

In this expert blog written for PRI, author Alexei Lakhov argues that the meaningful involvement of people with lived experience is essential to creating effective drug and prison policies. There is a fundamental need to move beyond tokenism toward genuine partnership in decision-making, ensuring diverse voices shape agendas and recommendations grounded in lived experience. The […]

Alexei Lakhov15th January 2026

Rethinking prison landscapes: Why green space must be central to penal reform

In this blog, the authors argue that green spaces are essential prison infrastructure, showing that biodiverse landscapes reduce violence, stress and self-harm, support rehabilitation and security, and improve climate resilience. Even small changes in older prisons can help, making nature-rich environments key to dignity and meaningful reform.

Dominique Moran and Emma Widdop2nd December 2025

Placing lived experience at the heart of systemic change in prisons

In this expert blog for Penal Reform International, Dwayne Antojado highlights that meaningful involvement of people with lived experience of imprisonment is essential for creating truly human-centred justice systems. His work shows that co-designed education, authentic representation, and narrative methods deepen understanding of imprisonment, while fair support and decision-making roles for affected individuals turn personal […]

Dwayne Antojado5th August 2025

The shadow code: How informal prison hierarchy undermines human dignity across post-Soviet prisons

In this expert blog, PRI’s Tinatin Uplisashvili explores the persistence of informal prison hierarchies across post-Soviet penitentiary systems, structures that continue to shape prison life through violence, social exclusion and informal authority. Drawing on recent reports by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and long-standing documentation from multiple countries, the blog analyses how […]

Tinatin Uplisashvili22nd July 2025

Behind bars, beyond justice: confronting corruption in the prison system

In this expert blog for Penal Reform International, Sofie Arjon Schütte analyses the phenomenon of corruption in prisons, fuelled by severe power imbalances, limited oversight, and widespread overcrowding, creating conditions ripe for bribery, extortion, and abuse – particularly against vulnerable groups.

Sofie Arjon Schütte15th July 2025

Greening justice – The contribution of green probation

How can probation services help build a greener future? In this blog, Rob Allen and Steve Pitts propose a “Green Probation Agenda” to align rehabilitation with environmental sustainability, showcasing global promising practices.

Steve Pitts and Rob Allen29th April 2025