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Findings From Auditing Prisons In Malawi: A Data Driven Approach To SDG16.3.2

This is part 2 of the blog ”Findings from Auditing Prisons in Malawi” originally published by Pathfinders Read part 1 here ____________________________________________________________ By Clifford Msiska, Director, Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (Malawi) and Adam Stapleton, Director, The Governance and Justice Group (UK) The Justice for All report highlights the importance of putting people at the center of justice. This can […]

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New horizons in Türkiye with ambitious project to be implemented by Penal Reform International and Civil Society in the Penal System Association

In February 2024, Penal Reform International (PRI) and local partner, Ceza İnfaz Sisteminde Sivil Toplum Derneği (Civil Society in the Penal System Association, CISST), embarked on a new project funded by the European Union to improve human rights in the in Türkiye’s Penitentiary System. For the next four years, PRI and CISST will deliver an ambitious […]

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National Human Rights Committee of Qatar and Penal Reform International Forge Partnership to promote human rights and Reform Criminal Justice Systems

Press release On 6 February 2024, in Doha, Qatar, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of the State of Qatar and Penal Reform International (PRI) made a significant step towards improving and safeguarding human rights in the criminal justice system by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This strategic partnership aims to foster a collaborative […]

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People in detention are forgotten or ignored in COVID-19 responses, says new PRI briefing

A new briefing, Coronavirus: Preventing harm and human rights violations in criminal justice systems, highlights the impact of responses to COVID-19 on people in detention – amounting to 11 million people – who have been left behind, ignored or forgotten. Penal Reform International exposes a lack of systematic testing and data collection in prisons across the globe, which means unknown numbers of people in detention and staff are falling ill and dying […]

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UN Human Rights Council takes action to tackle racism and police brutality

George Floyd’s killing in the United States city of Minneapolis in Minnesota has shed light on systemic racism within law enforcement agencies across the US. Such discrimination is a global problem, as we have documented in Global Prison Trends 2020, minority groups are over-represented in many criminal justice systems, seeing higher rates of arrest, pre-trial […]

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Webinar: Launch of Global Prison Trends 2020

Prisons and justice systems are facing unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 global pandemic. At this launch event for PRI’s new report Global Prison Trends 2020, international leaders and experts will address chronic issues that have led to this human rights and public health crisis with people in prison being so vulnerable – and critically, […]

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Our ambitions for 2020-2023

This year PRI is celebrating 30 years of accomplishments in developing and promoting fair and effective criminal justice systems across the world. Today, we set our trajectory for the coming decade, launching our new strategy for 2020-2023. The decade we are entering will determine whether the world is able to sustain and promote human rights, […]

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We are 30!

Over 30 years, we have had many successes, working in more than 90 countries. We are proud of our past achievements and look forward to the years ahead.      We believe in what Nelson Mandela said: “No one really truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails.” We believe that […]

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PRI to launch Global Prison Trends on 21 May 2019

Alongside the Thailand Institute for Justice, PRI will launch the fifth edition of Global Prison Trends on Wednesday 21 May 2019, at the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Global Prison Trends outlines key developments and trends in the use and management of imprisonment worldwide. In 2019, the 52-page report will also contain […]

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Experts discuss Global Prison Trends at London panel event

Yesterday, Penal Reform International hosted an expert panel event in London to mark the UK launch of Global Prison Trends 2018. Published last month, Global Prison Trends 2018 is the fourth edition in PRI’s annual flagship Global Prison Trends series. The panel event, which took place at Linklaters LLP, brought together experts to discuss the most urgent and emerging issues […]

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PRI launches Global Prison Trends 2018

Today, PRI launches its annual flagship publication, Global Prison Trends 2018, at the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Global Prison Trends 2018 is the fourth edition in PRI’s annual flagship Global Prison Trends series, and is published in collaboration with the Thailand Institute of Justice. It identifies topical developments and challenges in criminal justice and prison policy and practice over the past […]

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Meeting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: a look at reducing pre-trial detention in efforts to achieve Goal 16

On 12 April 2018, PRI participated in a round table convened on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) in London, to discuss pre-trial detention in Commonwealth countries. The event was hosted by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in partnership with the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), PRI, Fair Trials, the […]

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PRI launches new report: Global Prison Trends 2017

Today, PRI launches its annual flagship publication, Global Prison Trends 2017, at the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Global Prison Trends 2017 identifies the topical developments and challenges in criminal justice and prison policy and practice over the past 12 months, and highlights some significant reports and jurisprudence. It is the third edition […]