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Separation and solitary confinement in the revised 2020 European Prison Rules – First thoughts

The European Prison Rules (and their Commentary) were recently revised by the Council of Europe. The most notable changes arguably concern the rules guiding prison authorities on the separation and solitary confinement of prisoners. In this article written for PRI, Professor Dirk van Zyl Smit, who was expert adviser to the Penological Council of the Council of Europe on the revision, shares his first thoughts on what these new limitations on separation and solitary confinement mean for prison management and the human rights of prisoners.

Expert guest for PRIDirk van Zyl Smit10th July 2020

Coronavirus and women in detention: A gender-specific approach missing

The coronavirus pandemic has shed a light on the crisis state of criminal justice and prison systems, but in this the plight of women has somewhat been neglected, or overtly disregarded. Without a gender-specific assessment and response to coronavirus, lives of women are at risk and human rights violations will continue.

Olivia Rope4th June 2020

We are 30: Looking forward to the next decade

30 years ago, Vivien Stern, Ahmed Othmani and Hans Tulkens created Penal Reform International. In the footsteps of our founders, and proud of all we have accomplished over the last 30 years, we now look forward and launch a new strategy, setting the tone of PRI’s evolution.

Florian Irminger21st November 2019