Report
Global Prison Trends 2025
2025 edition of Global Prison Trends, flagship annual report with data-driven analysis of key developments in prisons worldwide.
Languages: English
Resources listing
Report
From poverty to punishment: Examining laws and practices which criminalise women due to poverty or status worldwide
Women’s imprisonment is rising at an alarming rate, often driven by poverty, discrimination, and harsh laws. Urgent reforms are needed to decriminalise poverty and status-related offences and prioritise justice that protects women’s rights.
Languages: English
Report
Ending violence against children in detention in the EU
This Working Paper on violence against children in EU detention facilities highlights urgent gaps in data and inconsistent legal protections. With nine key recommendations, it calls for harmonised practices to protect children’s rights and well-being.
Languages: English
Report
Implementation of the National Strategy for the Demilitarisation of Prisons in the Central African Republic
In January 2019, the Central African Republic (CAR) approved a “National Strategy for the Demilitarisation of Prison Establishments“, developed in partnership with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and Penal Reform International (PRI). Following its adoption, the National Demilitarisation Strategy was incorporated into the Justice Sector Policy 2020-2024. […]
Languages: English, French
Report
Global Prison Trends annual series
Global Prison Trends is PRI's annual flagship series. Published every year since 2015, the series identifies topical developments and challenges in criminal justice and prison policy and practice, and contributes to the monitoring of crime trends and operations of criminal justice systems.
Languages: English
Report
Discussion guide: Roma and non-custodial sanctions
This discussion guide sets out findings from an exploratory study on Roma persons’ access to and experience of non-custodial sanctions and measures in Europe. It is published as part of the project ‘PRI Alt Eur: Promoting non-discriminatory alternatives to imprisonment in Europe’, and is based on desk-based research, including a survey among probation experts in […]
Languages: English
Report
Non-custodial sanctions and measures in the member states of the European Union: A comparative study
To advocate for and realise the importance and benefits of real, effective alternatives to imprisonment as keys to reducing overreliance on prisons and delivering fair and proportionate criminal justice for all, it is important to understand how non-custodial sanctions and measures are currently used. This comparative research on the use and implementation of non-custodial sanctions […]
Languages: Hungarian, English, French, Portuguese
Report
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-custodial sanctions and measures: Summary report of a comparative study in Member States of the European Union
In order to reduce prison populations to manage the spread of COVID-19, many states turned to the use of non-custodial sanctions and measures and the adoption of early or emergency release schemes. While the impact of the pandemic on prisons has been well documented, it is less clear how COVID-19 and the different measures governments […]
Languages: English, French
Report
Country reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-custodial sanctions and measures
In-depth country reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use, implementation and experience of non-custodial sanctions and measures in Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan and Portugal, including preparations for release from prison and experiences of staff and those under probation supervision. These reports were published with the financial support of the International Penal and Penitentiary […]
Languages: Kyrgyz, Hungarian, English, Georgian, Portuguese, Russian
Report
COVID-19 vaccinations for prison populations and staff: Report on global scan
This report examines policies and practices related to COVID-19 vaccination in prisons across 177 countries, analysing how people detained and working in prisons are included in vaccination plans and roll-out. It highlights a critical lack of data collection and transparency on this aspect of the COVID-19 response and finds that most countries failed to adequately plan for vaccination in prisons, which has led to piecemeal and often insufficient implementation.
Languages: English