Many prison and probation systems are operating at breaking point with low budgets, inadequate staffing, poor conditions and a growing number of people to provide for and supervise. This hidden fragility is laid bare when external crises hit.
In times of economic uncertainty and political instability, natural or environmental disasters, conflict, humanitarian or health crises, systemic weaknesses can lead to human rights violations and a rapid deterioration of law and order.
The resources below aim to support human rights-based approaches to crisis prepardness in criminal justice systems.
Good governance for prisons during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
This guide provides examples of how the eight principles of good governance have been specifically and successfully applied in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they might continue to be applied more effectively towards longer-term and sustainable reform.
(English)
10-point plan: crisis-ready non-custodial sanctions and measures
This tool offers practical, evidence-based guidance for everyone involved in the delivery of non-custodial sanctions and measures, on building and strengthening services that are flexible, non-discriminatory and better able to adapt and respond to crises.
(English, French, Spanish, Russian, Hungarian)
Fragile and conflict-affected settings: Prisons and criminal justice systems
With case studies on Yemen and the Central African Republic, this briefing sets out ten recommendations for restoring peace and the rule of law by building effective criminal justice systems to guide actors working in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
(English, French)
Natural hazards and prisons: Protecting human rights in disaster prevention, response and recovery
Based on primary research, this guide – the first of its kind – presents practical measures with a human rights-based approach for practitioners and frontline staff to enhance disaster risk reduction in prison systems.
(English)
Prisons in Crises (Global Prison Trends, Special Focus 2021)
More than a year after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, this Special Focus for Global Prison Trends 2021 looks at how authorities respond to different crisis situations, how prisons and the people in them are affected, and what measures authorities can put in place for better crisis preparedness and response.
(English)
COVID-19 vaccinations for prison populations and staff: Report on global scan
This report by PRI and Harm Reduction International finds a critical lack of data collection and transparency on this aspect of the COVID-19 response, with most countries failing to adequately plan or implement vaccination in prisons, with 13 recommendations for a human rights-based approach.
(English)
Coronavirus: Preventing harm and human rights violations in criminal justice systems
Building on our previous briefing on considerations to prevent outbreaks in prisons, this paper analyses the impact of measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with recommendations for immediate and systemic reform to prevent harm and human rights violations.
(English)