Resources listing

Report

Global Prison Trends 2016

This is the second annual edition in our Global Prison Trends series, describing key global trends in the use and practice of imprisonment and the pressing challenges facing states that wish to organise their penitentiary systems in accordance with international norms and standards. Topics include for example: developments in international criminal justice policy; notable changes to policy at the […]

Languages: English

Model for Reform

Ten-point plan on reducing pre-trial detention

High rates of pre‑trial detention can be found on most continents, particularly in low income countries and states emerging from conflict. During 2015, PRI initiated a comparative research study into how bail works as an alternative to pre‑trial detention. The study found that while bail and other options for release pending trial are available in […]

Languages: English, Turkish

Model for Reform

Ten-point plan on reforming criminal justice responses to drugs

Ten steps to guide countries interested in moving away from solely punitive responses to drugs and in developing health and human rights-based approaches. This Plan was developed in partnership with the International Drug Policy Consortium.  

Languages: English

Multimedia

Podcast: How to build a prison compliant with human rights norms

To fill the gap between international norms and the relative lack of information on how to build a compliant prison in difficult circumstances, UNOPS recently developed a Technical Guidance for Prison Planning document that facilitates a human rights-based approach in the development of prison infrastructure. This blog post by Gordon Nuttall and Pedja Jurisic (UNOPS) […]

Languages: English

Report

Preventing radicalisation in prisons – developing a coordinated and effective approach

In December 2015, PRI organised an international roundtable on ‘Preventing Radicalisation in Prisons: Developing a Coordinated and Effective Approach’ hosted by PRI’s MENA regional office in Amman, bringing together 30 participants from 15 countries representing the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Central and South Asia. This report summarises the discussions, covering: drivers for radicalisation in (and […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Short Guide to the Nelson Mandela Rules (revised Standard Minimum Rules)

This Short Guide summarises the 122 Rules of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners which were revised by the UN in 2015. The Guide, which outlines the minimum standards that should be applied in prisons from admission to release, will be useful for policy-makers developing national prison management standards and guidelines and […]

Languages: Amharic, English, French, Georgian, Haitian Creole, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Thai

Multimedia

The Nelson Mandela Rules: an animated introduction

In this two-minute animation, we explain the revised UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), what they include, and what they mean for prison management. Watch the animation in: Arabic Armenian: Правила Манделы -Краткое введение (Армянский) Georgian: მანდელას წესები – ანიმაციური მიმოხილვა Portuguese: As Regras de Nelson Mandela: uma introdução – with thanks […]

Languages: English

Report

Impact evaluation: Abolition of the death penalty and implementation of alternative sanctions, 2012–2015

This 29-month project (2012–2015) to campaign for the progressive abolition of the death penalty and its replacement with humane alternative sanctions was implemented in 10 countries in four regions: the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and East Africa. It was funded under the European Union’s Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), and by […]

Languages: English

Report

The Death Penalty: Myths & Realities

Myths and Realities provides ‘quick answers to common questions’ about the death penalty. The ‘myths’ covered, for example, include: ‘The death penalty keeps societies safer’, ‘the death penalty is applied fairly’, ‘there is nothing in international law to stop countries using the death penalty’, and ‘victims and relatives are in favour’. The booklet is interactive […]

Languages: English