Publications

The need to prevent convicted prisoners and other offenders from reoffending constitutes a major challenge for both criminal justice and penitentiary systems. Reoffending rates are considerable – in many instances they are even high – while the issue is tremendously complicated. Rehabilitation (sometimes described as resocialisation, reintegration or treatment) is an important tool to prevent reoffending, but has clearly become less self-evident in many jurisdictions in recent decades.

A policy briefing on informal life sentences has been issued with the University of Nottingham, serving as an advocacy tool to shed light on this ‘harsh, hidden sentence’, Given the high profile cases and media attention to transgender persons in prison, PRI is to soon publish ‘Placement of trans and nonbinary people: human rights guidance for prisons’ (together with Transgender Europe), and also a guide for detention monitors on corruption in prisons (together with U4).

This comprehensive volume explores the complex intersection of mental health and criminal justice systems, offering international and national sights into how defendants and detainees with mental illness are treated across jurisdictions.

Women are a rapidly growing minority in prisons. Prison systems, however, have always been determined by the behaviour of men. The 2010 UN Bangkok Rules form a body of rules that is specially aimed at the needs of women in prison. Being the first international instrument on this subject, the Bangkok Rules can be considered a milestone.

This new volume explores the global overuse of the criminal justice system. It examines how excessive criminalization, prosecution, and imprisonment undermine fairness and effectiveness. Featuring thematic and country-specific chapters, it highlights legal frameworks, statistics, good practices, and practical solutions to ensure criminal justice remains a last resort.