Briefing
The prevalence of disease, malnutrition, mental illness and general ill health among the global prison population provides overwhelming and incontrovertible evidence that prisons are bad for your health. For many, imprisonment is marked by the deterioration in health and well-being– in some cases it is tantamount to a death sentence. The causes of poor prisoner […]
Languages: Arabic, English, French, Russian
Report
In this book, criminal justice practitioners from around the world explore practical ways of delivering legal aid in criminal justice matters to the poorest sectors of African and other developing societies. They articulate a broad and inclusive definition of legal aid, call on governments, in partnership with civil society, to provide legal aid at all […]
Languages: English, French
Report
This report focuses on community service, a sentence issued by the Gacaca Courts which can replace up to half of the prison sentence for those perpetrators of genocide who voluntarily confessed to their actions. Community service is intended to be an opportunity for the perpetrators to provide practical help and assistance to the victims and their […]
Languages: English, French
Briefing
This briefing examines the use of life imprisonment worldwide, including the increasing trend of life imprisonment without the possibility of release, or life without parole (LWOP). Emerging trends indicate an increase in the number of offences carrying the sanction of life imprisonment, a greater prevalence of indeterminate sentencing, a reduction in the use of parole, […]
Languages: English, French, Russian
Training
The image we have of ‘legal aid’ is that of a lawyer pleading before a court on behalf of an indigent client. This lawyer may act for free (pro bono or pro deo); or as a public defender (on a salary paid by the state); or as a private lawyer (contracted for services and paid […]
Languages: English, French
Report
This report explores the challenges faced by the Rwandan national authorities during the information gathering phase of the Gacaca process.
Languages: English, French
Multimedia
Published in 2005 Available in French 51 Minutes duration Shot in Benin, Kenya and Malawi ‘Freedom Inside These Walls’ provides disturbing footage of prison conditions inside these countries, which are common to many other prisons in Africa. It highlights the challenges in accessing justice faced by poor people in conflict with the law. The film […]
Languages: French
Training
Published by OHCHR in collaboration with PRI and the International Centre for Prison Studies This trainer’s guide was produced by the United National Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) in collaboration with PRI and the International Centre for Prison Studies. It is one component of the four-part publication, Human Rights in Prisons, […]
Languages: Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Training
This publication provides programme and advocacy experiences from member organisations of the Inter-Agency Co-ordination Panel on Juvenile Justice.
Languages: Arabic, English, French, Spanish
Training
The excessive length and use of pre-trial dentention is a major cause of overcrowding in prisons worldwide. This index provides examples of good practices in reducing pre-trial detention. It is aimed at penal reformers everywhere while primarily focusing on African practices.
Languages: English, French