Resources listing

Submission

Submission to the OHCHR: Impact of the world drug problem on the enjoyment of human rights

The enforcement of overly punitive laws for drug offences has not only proven ineffective in curbing the production, trafficking, and consumption of illicit substances, but had many negative consequences, including overloading criminal justice systems, overwhelming the courts, fuelling prison overcrowding and exacerbating health problems. Focusing already limited resources on low-level offenders and drug users has […]

Languages: English

Multimedia

Podcast: Failed drug policies in Latin America: the impact on prisons and human rights

In this last of our expert guest blogs for our anniversary year, Luciana Pol, Senior Fellow on Security and Human Rights at Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS) in Argentina welcomes initiatives in several Latin American countries to start to recalibrate the criminal justice response to drugs and welcomes the inclusion of human rights […]

Languages: English

Annual Report

PRI Annual Accounts 2014

Report of the PRI Board and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014.

Languages: English

Briefing

Prison guards and the death penalty

How are prison officers affected by overseeing prisoners on death row or even participating in executions? What effects does it have in the short and the longer term? This short paper draws on research and interviews with prison guards to outline the psychological impact that guards who have worked with prisoners for many years on death row […]

Languages: English

Multimedia

Podcast: Global Prison Trends 2015

Sentencing trends … prison technology – opportunities and threats … architectural design and offender rehabilitation. A special podcast to accompany our new Global Prison Trends report. Guests include: Alison Hannah (PRI Executive Director) Bryan Stevenson (Director of the Equal Justice Initiative and PRI Board Member) Dr Marayca López (US corrections analyst and justice planner) Rob Allen (criminal […]

Languages: English

Briefing

Women in criminal justice systems: the added value of the UN Bangkok Rules

This article outlines aspects of discrimination faced by female suspects, defendants and prisoners in criminal justice systems, their number, profile and characteristics, and the offences they are typically charged with or convicted for. It covers certain key conditions in detention as well as programmes in place for rehabilitation and reintegration. It draws on data, country […]

Languages: English

Report

Global Prison Trends 2015

This report is designed to describe key global trends in the use and practice of imprisonment and to identify some of the pressing challenges facing states that wish to organise their penitentiary system in accordance with international norms and standards. Topics include: Prison populations and rates of imprisonment Prison management Prison regimes New technologies Criminal justice, social policy and […]

Languages: English

Multimedia

Podcast: Prisoner consultation can contribute to the smooth running of prisons

Many jurisdictions permit prison councils involving both prisoners and staff to have input into the way that prisons are run. In this penultimate blog in our year-long series, Kimmett Edgar, Head of Research at the UK charity, the Prison Reform Trust, says that self-advocacy roles for prisoners have a wide range of benefits. Service provision can be better informed […]

Languages: English

Report

Alternatives to the death penalty – Information Pack

A short guide to the fundamental issues and arguments linked to introduction of alternative sanctions following abolition of the death penalty. It reviews current trends in the application of long-term and life imprisonment, highlighting relevant international and regional human rights standards and provides examples of good practice. Topics covered include: Current practices worldwide regarding alternatives to […]

Languages: English, French, Russian

Multimedia

Podcast: Prison systems need to acknowledge widespread corruption

Prisons are precisely the sort of environment where you might think that corruption would easily develop and prosper, which is why it is perhaps surprising that relatively little has been done so far to tackle it. In the ninth of our expert blog series, former UK prison governor and criminal justice expert, John Podmore, says […]

Languages: English