Submission to PC-CP WG on European Prison Rules revision

This submission to the Working Group of the Council for Penological Co-operation (PC-CP) was made ahead of its meeting on 17–19 September 2018 in Strasbourg, where the Working Group will discuss revisions to the European Prison Rules. It is a joint submission with the Association for the Prevention of Torture.

The European Committee on Crime Problems requested the PC-CP to revise eight areas of the European Prison Rules, which are a key reference for both prison administrations and staff in the region. The Rules are also used by monitoring bodies and civil society, providing guidance on how to uphold the rights of people in prison in practice.

The eight areas for revision are:

• Solitary confinement (Nos 3, 24, 53 and 60.5)
• Records and file management (No 15.1)
• Women (No 34)
• Foreign nationals (No 37)
• Use of restraints (No 68)
• Complaints (No 70)
• Adequate staffing level (Nos 71 to 91)
• Inspections and monitoring (Nos 92 and 93)

The purpose of the revisions is to align the content of the Rules to the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, the standards of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, as well as the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).