Blog

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

Insights on security and violence in European prisons

Violence in European prisons is rising, driven by overcrowding, staff shortages, and organised crime. This blog explores trends, data practices, and reforms needed for humane, rehabilitative and secure prison systems.

Jérôme Mangelinckx 2nd April 2025

Beyond capacity: Europe’s prison overcrowding challenge

Discover how European prisons navigate overcrowding. This blog explores disparities, impacts, and innovative reforms, drawing on 2024 data and insights from PRI’s Global Prison Trends series.

Idil Aydinoglu11th December 2024

A turning point for detention in Europe: Political support for detention houses

On 14th of June 2024, the 27 Justice Ministers of the EU adopted landmark Council Conclusions on ‘Small-scale Detention: focusing on social rehabilitation and reintegration into society’. In this blog, Noa Shoshan from RESCALED – a movement advocating for the use of detention houses instead of large prison institutions – explains their relevance for the […]

Noa Shoshan23rd October 2024

Understanding and supporting the needs of neurodivergent people in prisons is a human rights issue

In this expert blog written for PRI, Louise Finer highlights the urgent need for human rights approaches that consider the unique experiences of neurodivergent individuals in prisons. She discusses the significant overrepresentation of neurodivergent people in the criminal justice system, the critical human rights issues they face and the positive impact of individualised, supportive approaches. […]

Louise Finer30th July 2024

Five takeaways from #CSW68 on the criminalisation of women linked to poverty 

One week after International Women’s Day, a coalition of organisations and experts convened to address the rising trend of women’s criminalisation driven by poverty in a side event at the 68th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York on 15 March. The event highlighted the intersections of gender, […]

Jérôme Mangelinckx 4th April 2024

Growth – an emerging new philosophy, to transform culture in detention

Figure 1: Principles of Growth Wheel    In this blog written for PRI, the authors Makayla Agyemang and Dr Sarah Lewis from UK-based Penal Reform Solutions, present the “Growth Project” that they have implemented in English prisons to foster rehabilitative relationships between people detained and staff in prison facilities. The project is based on Dr […]

Sarah Lewis, Makayla Agyemang14th February 2024