Penal Reform International

🌐 Exciting News! Penal Reform International Joins Justice Action Coalition

Thrilled to announce that Penal Reform International (PRI) is now a proud member of the Justice Action Coalition (JAC) Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, a dynamic multi-stakeholder alliance dedicated to propelling significant advancements in justice outcomes worldwide. 🤝

The JAC, uniting countries and organisations with a shared vision, aims for tangible progress in justice-related objectives. Recognising the power of collective action, the coalition fosters collaboration among governments, NGOs, and stakeholders to create a more just and equitable world.

PRI, a key advocate for and criminal transformation, brings extensive experience and expertise to this collaboration. PRI's Executive Director, Olivia Rope says: "𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘈𝘊, 𝘗𝘙𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦-𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘙𝘐’𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴." 🌍⚖️

Looking Ahead, this partnership marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of . We are committed to working together with the global members of the coalition and governments towards achieving measurable progress and contributing to a legacy of positive change in the years to come.

𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
American Bar Association
HiiL | User-friendly Justice
International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)
International Development Law Organization - IDLO
Institute for Inspiring Children's Futures
Namati
ODI |Overseas Development Institute
OECD
The Fund for Global Human Rights
Open Government Partnership
Terre des hommes
UN Women
United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
The World Bank
World Justice Project
University of Helsinki

𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
France
Germany
Indonesia
Kosovo
Liberia
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Niger
Norway* observes
Portugal
São Tomé and Príncipe
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Sweden
Switzerland* observes
United States

🌐Job Opportunity 🌐

We're actively a with a strong background in (or relevant experience) and proficient knowledge of MS Excel. Your expertise will be crucial in supporting the creation of a data collection tool to capture and analyse data related to violence against children in .

🌍 This opportunity is part of ongoing project funded by the European Union.

📅 Start date: ASAP

🌐 Location: Netherlands, Remote (largely)

📆 Duration: Until April 2024

⏰ Application deadline: Wednesday, 6 December 2023, 9am CET

🗓️ Interviews: 11-13 December 2023 (virtual)

🔗https://www.penalreform.org/about-us/contact/jobs-vacancy-hiring/

Let's work together! 🤝

This and everyday, we believe that safety is , including those in detention.

🔴 Learn more about our program, aimed to enhance safety for children in detention: https://www.penalreform.org/where-we-work/europe/projects/

🔵 Read our latest blog on monitoring violence against children in detention: https://www.penalreform.org/blog/monitoring-violence-against-children-in-detention-a-safeguarding/

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁!

New Blog Entry: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁? 🔍

🌐In Europe, over 10,000 children face criminal justice-related detention. Our latest blog by Silvia Randazzo delves into the complexities of monitoring and addressing violence in these settings.

𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 #𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘔𝘖𝘚𝘈𝘐𝘊 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘗𝘙𝘐 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘮𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯-𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘜.

Read more:➡https://www.penalreform.org/blog/monitoring-violence-against-children-in-detention-a-safeguarding-blindspot/

, every right!

On this we're proud to highlight Dᴀᴛᴀ MOSAIC project, aimed at protecting the safety of in by enhancing data collection and monitoring, partnering with experts, identifying gaps, and improving child safety.

🔍 Project Overview:
Data MOSAIC focuses on creating comprehensive, comparable, and based data systems. We aim to detect forms of violence, ensuring sensitivity to the diverse experiences of imprisoned children, including + children, those with mental health problems or disabilities, and those from marginalised groups.

📍 Scope:
Mapping current data collection practices across EU prisons to inform the development of a tool and good practises guidance. Piloting in cooperation with child justice authorities in Bulgaria, Ireland, and Romania.

🤝 Partners:
Coordinated by Penal Reform International (PRI), the consortium includes @ИСДП (SAPI), Terre des hommes - Romania, Tierra de hombres España, and associated partner Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Global Initiative on Justice With Children.

🎯 Main Outcomes:
🔹 Better understanding of current data collection systems on Violence Against Children (VAC).
🔹Increased capacity for systematic, transparent, and non-discriminatory .
🔹Foster child-friendly culture within institutions
🔹Raised awareness among EU justice stakeholders on the importance of improved data collection.

🌐 Key Characteristics:
Inclusivity: Prioritizing diverse expertise, including children with lived justice system experiences.
Cross-national Impact: Sharing insights and learning across borders for broader systemic change.

📆 Implementation Timeline:
Spring 2023 – Spring 2025

🇪🇺Funded by the European Union
Find out more: https://www.penalreform.org/where-we-work/europe/projects/

In January 2019, the Central African Republic unveiled its ''𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀'' in collaboration with MINUSCA (the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic) and Penal Reform International. Our latest report sheds light on the progress made since its adoption.

🔍 Key Lessons Learned:

✅Listening to the voices of detained persons and stakeholders is crucial when crafting strategies to reduce violence in prisons. The demilitarisation strategy, though aimed at decreasing prison violence, only partially considered thee needs of people in prison due to their voices being unheard.

✅Striking a balance between international and national involvement is vital. A well-balanced partnership ensures inclusive, transparent, and locally adapted reforms, preventing disengagement on the national side.

✅Baseline studies are essential for reform. Documenting baseline data enables effective analysis of indicators and strengthens the quality of the assessment.

➡Read the full report to delve deeper: https://www.penalreform.org/resource/implementation-of-the-national-strategy-for-the-demilitarisation/

Michel Gabriel Ngoo-djob Litet

In a time of and growing expenses, it's essential for all institutions, including prisons, to prioritise and reduce their footprint.

Wiep Fokker from Restorative Justice Nederland advocates for nature-based detention houses as a groundbreaking, eco-friendly approach to .

Explore the full blog for insights: https://www.penalreform.org/blog/nature-based-detention-houses/

Nature-based detention houses - Penal Reform International In a context of climate crisis and rising costs, prisons, like all institutions, must take action to be more sustainable and minimise impact on the environment. In this blog, Wiep Fokker from Restorative Justice Netherlands makes the case for nature-based detention houses as an ecologically sustaina...

📢 Excited to introduce our 2023 series in French, Spanish, and Portuguese!

🌎 This year, we're shifting our focus to explore the impact of and rising living costs on people in , their families, and the facilities themselves.

👉 Find the summaries and get ready-to-use social media packs by visiting: https://www.penalreform.org/global-prison-trends-2023/

At the recent "𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴" conference organised by the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), Olivia Rope, the Executive Director of Penal Reform International, delivered a keynote speech with the following key points:

🌐 , an overview of the current state of prisons worldwide, emphasing the importance of adopting a global perspective.

⭕ Three Pressing Challenges slowing down humane corrections:
❗ Crises: , , and armed conflicts pose significant challenges to correctional systems
❗ Technologies: while technology offers various benefits, its rapid introduction and scaling in prisons requires careful consideration due to potential harm.
❗ Fundamental Problems: organised crime's rising threat and its impact on prisons, coupled with the corruption associated with such crime, were highlighted.

✔ Three Recommendations for :
📍Holistic Approach: Advocate for criminal justice systems to be humane as a whole, with a focus on reducing the number of individuals within the system.
📍 Openness and Transparency: Emphasise transparency and data as crucial elements in the quest for humane corrections.
📍 Centering Lived Experience: Put individuals with lived experience at the forefront of decision-making, ensuring their voices are heard.

The "Humane Corrections" conference brings together a diverse group of 900 delegates, including heads of service, policymakers, researchers, corrections practitioners, academics, lawyers, and other stakeholders involved in the field of corrections. These discussions are crucial for ongoing efforts to create more humane and -based criminal justice systems.

🌍 In many countries across the globe, criminal justice fines unfairly burden people with vulnerability, effectively giving rise to tiered justice systems.

✍ Jean Galbraith and Rheem Brooks from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School discuss new research findings on this issue and provide valuable insights into what international and communities can do to address the use of poverty penalties.

➡ Read the blog post: https://www.penalreform.org/blog/the-over-penalisation-of-poverty-through-fines-and/

📑 NEW advocacy brief on climate in-justice for children is out now!

and young people worldwide are bearing the brunt of climate change. Those who come into contact with the are in an even more vulnerable situation and have even less means of adapting.

The Global Initiative on justice with children, hosted under the Terre des hommes Foundation's (Tdh) Access to Justice programme is proud to present our latest in collaboration with Fundación Tierra de hombres, AiMjF, Penal Reform International, Baker McKenzie, Inspiring Children's Futures by University of Strathclyde, Child Rights Connect and Child Rights International Network - CRIN - an advocacy brief on for children.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝟒 𝐬𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:

• 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

• 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲

• 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬

• 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 & 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬

📚 The advocacy brief is a crucial step in putting the UN CRC General Comment 26 on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change into action, particularly when it comes to 'Access to Justice & Remedies' with and for children and youth (section D of the GC 26).

Every child deserves climate justice!

Read our advocacy brief: https://shorturl.at/izADG

🔴𝟏𝟑/𝟏𝟎 𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Prisons are often forgotten amidst natural disasters, with dire consequences. People in prison and staff are at risk from natural hazards, yet #𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (DRR) plans often fail to include them.

n recent years, prison populations and staff have suffered injuries and, in some cases, died due to natural disasters. This is due to inadequate preparations and plans by prison authorities and governments in a context of prison overcrowding. 𝘼𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙮, 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝟑𝟎% 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙭𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝟑.𝟏𝟕 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨. For instance, in Peru, half of the country's prisons are situated in regions prone to disasters.

Ineffective #𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 and #𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 reduction plans leave prison management and staff ill-equipped to respond effectively, leading to panic, unrest, and sometimes protests and escapes. People in prison are dependent on staff to ensure their safety during disasters, unlike the general populations that can evacuate or stock up on supplies. Their vulnerability is further heightened when prisons are overcrowded, poorly constructed, or lack proper sanitation.

Prison DRR plans that do exist often prioritise security over #𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 and fail to address the specific needs of individuals. These plans should be based on international standards, best practices, and informed by a risk analysis. Prisons are part of society and the local community and must be included in disaster response plans by local governments and humanitarian aid organizations.

📑Our guide highlights that what works in one prison may not necessarily work in another, emphasising the importance of tailored strategies for effective disaster risk reduction in prisons. It is crucial that prisons take immediate and long-term steps to safeguard the lives, human rights, and welfare of people in prison and their staff.

➡𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: 𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦/𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭-𝘩𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴-𝘢𝘯𝘥-𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴-𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨-𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯-𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴/

On , we call for an end to the criminalization and detention of girls – a highly vulnerable group with complex needs.

PRI recommends -specific, child-friendly policies in line with international standards to protect the of girls in systems including:

✅Reforms to stop girls being criminalised for offences related to their age, gender, economic or social status
✅Avoiding imprisonment of girls wherever possible
✅Where detained, supervision of girls by female staff who are adequately trained and separated from boys and adults

📌Within our work as a member of the Initiative, PRI works to protect and support girls who come into the criminal justice, including Indonesia and Europe.

ℹLearn more:

➡ Where We Work: https://www.penalreform.org/where-we-work/

➡Child Justice with a Gender & Diversity Approach: Turning Challenges into Progress
https://tdh.rokka.io/dynamic/noop/d048efe4b01720695c5aa57d3f3bbac52d2135f0/tdh-inclusive-justice-gender-diversity-children-2023-en.pdfInclusive

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Advocating for Justice and Humane Alternatives

❗Today and every day, Penal Reform International works to end the death penalty. Despite the progress we have made towards universal , 55 countries still retain the use of the death penalty. 2022 also saw the highest number of executions in the past five years. In 2022, increased by 53%, with 883 recorded across 20 countries, up from 579 in 18 countries in 2021. As a form of , the death penalty should be strictly forbidden under international law.

On the 21st World Day Against the Death Penalty, we at PRI take a stand and join our fight towards a world free from capital punishment. The pursuit of justice doesn't end with the abolition of the death penalty. We must ensure that abolition is not replaced with a cruel punishment, such as life without the possibility of parole.

Join us in advocating for:

✅ Abolition of the death penalty

✅ Human rights protection for people currently living on death row, in line with the UN and UN

✅ Introduction of humane alternatives to the death penalty in the process of abolition

ℹ PRI is a member of World Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Learn more on alternatives: https://www.penalreform.org/resource/alternatives-death-penalty-information-pack/

10/10 is
A growing mental health crisis in prisons globally – further exacerbated by the pandemic – has been reported year-on-year in . Prison populations already experience poorer mental health compared to the community linked to their imprisonment and prior experiences. Support has generally not increased in line with the need, and in some countries, there is little or no mental health support for people in and leaving prison. It is alarming that information on mental health in prisons is mostly limited to high-income countries, leaving a significant data gap in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the crisis, leaving people in prison with severe long-term anxiety.
Learn more: https://www.penalreform.org/global-prison-trends-2023/

📢 We are thrilled to announce that Olivia Rope, Executive Director of Penal Reform International (PRI), will be the keynote speaker at this year's annual conference.

👉 Olivia is an international lawyer with over a decade of experience in human rights and criminal justice issues. As head of PRI's global operations, she oversees all aspects of the organization from policy-setting to fundraising.

🌍Olivia’s keynote will explore what is involved in building systems where rehabilitation and social reintegration upon return to the community is meaningful and effective in transforming lives. Olivia will reflect on what humanity in criminal justice means in practice and share insights and recommendations on how to create and sustain criminal justice systems that are truly humane, with human rights front and center.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear from one of the leading voices in penal reform. Register now for our annual conference and join us in exploring humane corrections and what more we can do: https://bit.ly/3P5xWK4!

"Three ways to reduce the number of women in prison in the Americas"

In our latest blog, Coletta Youngers examines the new report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on women deprived of liberty and the need to:

✅ Change the narrative on women in prison
✅ Rethink alternatives to incarceration
✅ Implement IACHR's blueprint for reform

Three ways to reduce the number of women in prison in the Americas - Penal Reform International In July 2023, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights presented its first ever report detailing the scale and situation of women deprived of liberty in the Americas. In this blog, Coletta Youngers considers its findings and their importance for efforts to reduce women’s incarceration across ...

Today is !

of are violated in criminal justice systems. Research and data show they are disproportionately arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned in many countries.

Find out more in : https://www.penalreform.org/global-prison-trends-2023/

Pre-trial detention contributes significantly to prison overcrowding and causes a range of harms to individuals, their familes, and society. But what is driving its use?

In our latest expert blog, Madhurima Dhanuka from the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative presents the findings of their report and explores the disproportionate impact of pre-trial detention on poor and marginalised communities.

Poverty and detention: Are legal frameworks adequate? - Penal Reform International Pre-trial detention contributes significantly to prison overcrowding and causes a range of harms to individuals, their familes, and society. But what is driving its use? In this blog, Madhurima Dhanuka from the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative presents the findings of a recent report and explore...

Global Prison Trends 2023 is out now!

This year’s report assesses the impact of rising costs of living and austerity measures on prisons, detained people, and their families, as well as the impact of prison overcrowding in all aspects of prison life and management, from healthcare and nutrition to rehabilitation and countering violence and criminal subcultures in prison.

Read the report and download all the infographics at: penalreform.org/global-prison-trends-2023/

Global Prison Trends 2023 - Penal Reform International Global Prison Trends 2023 is PRI’s annual flagship report, published with the Thailand Institute of Justice, examining key trends and challenges in prison systems worldwide. This 2023 edition exposes the impact of economic crises and rising costs of food, transport and energy bills on prison syste...

*NEW*
Guidance document on the European Prison Rules

With detailed explanations and examples of promising practices to support implementation of the Rules, inspire solutions and generate new thinking across the region.
Council of Europe DG Human Rights and Rule of Law
https://www.penalreform.org/resource/guidance-document-epr/

Guidance document on the European Prison Rules - Penal Reform International The European Prison Rules, adopted by the Council of Europe, set out standards on the management of prisons and the treatment of people in prison. They apply in all Council of Europe member States and provide critical guidance to prison staff on how to protect and safeguard the human rights of peopl...

After last weekend's , work toward ensuring fair & effective for people everywhere has to continue throughout the year.

💡 Our Discussion guide: Roma and non-custodial sanctions highlights key issues & questions that should not be ignored. Find it - and other resources to support in sentencing and criminal justice systems - through the link below.



www.penalreform.org/resource/discussion-guide-roma-and-non-custodial-sanctions/

Discussion guide: Roma and non-custodial sanctions - Penal Reform International 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...

shortages in the community are often felt harder in , particularly in conflict areas and low and middle-income countries.

This find out more about the challenges for people in prison around the world: https://www.penalreform.org/global-prison-trends-2022/water-and-sanitation/

Today is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Racism has led to two-tier criminal justice systems, where ethnic minorities and are more likely to face arrest, a custodial sentence, and harsher treatment in prison.

To achieve equal access to justice, we must and .

🆕 Out now: 2022 Executive summary and infographics in

Find all the key messages and resources at https://www.penalreform.org/global-prison-trends-2022/

JOB OPPORTUNITY -

We are looking for a driven Project Assistant (28 h/w) to join our team in the Netherlands and support our and centred work in Europe.

The role will have a particular focus on a multi-national aiming to support better processes to monitor and prevent violence against in .

📅 Deadline for applications: 16 January 2023 (9:00am CET)

For full details of the role and the application requirements, visit our jobs site: https://lnkd.in/dNWm9kk

staff across the handle highly varied caseloads, ranging from nearly zero in parts of Greece to 185 persons per officer in Romania.

More info in comparative study published by Universidade de Coimbra, PRI and Hungarian Helsinki Committee, with funding from the European Commission, now available in English, French & Hungarian:
www.penalreform.org/resource/non-custodial-sanctions-and-measures-eu-comparative-study/

What can limit your access to non-custodial in the ?

New study by Universidade de Coimbra, published as part of our joint project in Europe, highlights many barriers to community-based sentence options, from offence types & overly complex sentencing systems to status-based limits to eligibility.



For more, read the full comparative report here: www.penalreform.org/resource/non-custodial-sanctions-and-measures-eu-comparative-study/

🆕 briefing from PRI, University of Nottingham and examines causes and responses to deaths in prisons worldwide, with recommendations for national and international actors on -based responses to prevent loss of life in prison https://www.penalreform.org/resource/deaths-in-prison-examining-causes-responses-and-prevention/

Deaths in prison: Examining causes, responses, and prevention - Penal Reform International Mortality rates are up to 50% higher in prison than in the community, linked to a wide range of causes and contributing factors which raise serious concerns for human rights, public health, and prison management. Yet, information on who is dying in prison and why, including disaggregated data, remai...

This PRI continues on its mission toward humane and better , working tirelessly alongside governments, prison staff, NGO partners & others to reduce prison overcrowding, ensure & support rehabilitative penal systems.

Read more about our work at www.penalreform.org and visit our Nelson page for more resources: www.penalreform.org/issues/prison-conditions/standard-minimum-rules/