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Results for prison

23 results found

Author: Weatherburn, Don

Title: The Effect of Prison on Adult Re-Offending

Summary: The effect of prison on re-offending was examined by comparing time to re-conviction among 96 matched pairs of convicted burglars and 406 matched pairs of offenders convicted of non-aggravated assault. One member of each pair received a prison sentence, while the other received some form of non-custodial sanction. All offenders were matched on offence type, number of concurrent offences, prior prison experience, number of prior appearances in court and bail status at final appearance. Cox regression was used to control for age, age of first conviction, gender, race, plea, number of counts of the principal offence, legal representation and prior breach of a court order. In the case of non-aggravated assault an additional control was included: prior conviction for a violent offence. The study found that offenders who received a prison sentence were slightly more likely to re-offend than those who received a noncustodial penalty. The difference was just significant for non-aggravated assault but not significant for burglary. The study concluded that there is no evidence that prison deters offenders convicted of burglary or non-aggravated assault. There is some evidence that prison increases the risk of offending amongst offenders convicted of non-aggravated assault but further research with larger samples is needed to confirm the results.

Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2010. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource: Crime and Justice Bulletin, No. 143: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB143.pdf/$file/CJB143.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB143.pdf/$file/CJB143.pdf

Shelf Number: 119884

Keywords:
Prison
Recidivism
Reoffending

Author: Edwards, Louise

Title: Pre-Trial Justice in Africa: An Overview of the Use of Arrest and Detention, and Conditions of Detention

Summary: Arbitrary arrest and detention, and poor conditions of pre-trial detention are prevalent but underexamined areas of criminal justice practice and reform. Approximately 43.3% of detainees across Africa are pre-trial detainees, with statistics ranging from 7.9% of the total prison population in Namibia, to 88.7% in Libya. These statistics are unlikely to include detainees in police detention facilities, and may therefore be significantly higher. Pre-trial detainees often exist in the shadows of the criminal justice system, as their detention and treatment are not generally subject to the same levels of judicial and other oversight as sentenced prisoners. Overall, pre-trial detainees experience poorer outcomes than sentenced prisoners in relation to conditions of detention, the risk of torture and other ill-treatment, susceptibility to corruption, and experience conditions of detention that do not accord with the rights to life, humane treatment and the inherent dignity of the person. Pre-trial detention has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable and marginalised, with pre-trial detainees more likely to be poor and without means to afford legal assistance or to post bail or bond. The over-use of pre-trial detention, and conditions of detention that do not accord with basic minimum standards, undermines the rule of law, wastes public resources and endangers public health. This study provides an overview of the challenges to achieving a rights-based approach to the use of arrest and detention by the police across Africa. It sets out the general principles of international law in relation to the procedural safeguards for arrest and detention and minimum standards for conditions of detention, and examines whether, and why, reports of arbitrary arrest and detention, and poor conditions of detention in police facilities persist across the African continent. The paper is structured as follows: - Part A: Introduction and methodology - Part B: The use of arrest - Part C: The use of pre-trial detention in police custody - Part D: Conditions of detention in police facilities - Part E: Conclusion and recommendations. The report concludes with a number of recommendations aimed at promoting a rights-based approach to arrest and detention. Specifically, it proposes that the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) use its mandate to 'formulate and lay down principles and rules' in relation to human rights to adopt a dedicated set of guidelines on pre-trial detention that promotes the implementation of a rights-based approach to arrest and detention across the continent.

Details: Mowbray, South Africa: African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, 2013. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: APCOF Policy Paper no. 7: Accessed October 28, 2013 at: http://www.apcof.org/files/8412_Pretrial_TrialJustice_Overview_in_Africa.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Africa

URL: http://www.apcof.org/files/8412_Pretrial_TrialJustice_Overview_in_Africa.pdf

Shelf Number: 131497

Keywords:
Arrest and Apprehension
Human Rights
Pretrial Detention
Prison
Prisoners

Author: Khadjavi, Menusch

Title: Deterrence Works for Criminals

Summary: Criminal law and economics rests on the expectation that deterrence incentives can be employed to reduce crime. Prison survey evidence however suggests that a majority of criminals are biased and may not react to deterrence incentives. This study employs an extra-laboratory experiment in a German prison to test the effectiveness of deterrence. Subjects either face potential punishment when stealing, or they can steal without deterrence. We confirm Gary Becker's deterrence hypothesis that deterrence works for criminals.

Details: Kiel, Germany: Kiel Institute for the World Economy, 2014. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: Kiel Working Paper no. 1938: Accessed October 12, 2016 at: https://www.ifw-members.ifw-kiel.de/publications/deterrence-works-for-criminals/KWP1938_Deterrence%20works%20for%20criminals_Khadjavi.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Germany

URL: https://www.ifw-members.ifw-kiel.de/publications/deterrence-works-for-criminals/KWP1938_Deterrence%20works%20for%20criminals_Khadjavi.pdf

Shelf Number: 145426

Keywords:
Deterrence
Prison
Punishment
Stealing
Theft

Author: Flaherty, Aaron

Title: Responsible Prison Project: Reshaping the Texas Prison system for Greater Public Safety

Summary: The "Responsible Prison Project" is comprised of five residents of the Darrington Unit corrections facility in eastern Texas, each of whom is a graduate of an in-prison seminary program. Last month, the men composed a report entitled, "Reshaping the Texas Prison System for Greater Public Safety." The proposed solutions, the authors say, are to help the Texas Department of Criminal Justice fulfill its stated mission to "provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior, reintegrate offenders into society, and assist victims of crime." "It has often been said that those who are closest to a problem are closest to its solution," the document begins. "That is no less true of prisoners." The document highlights a number of specific issues in the prison, from prisoner intake, to conditions and practices in the facility, to reentry programming. Each section paints a picture of current state of affairs, followed by a proposal for change.

Details: s.l.: 2016. 104p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2016 at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3149075-Responsible-Prison-Project.html#document/p2

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3149075-Responsible-Prison-Project.html#document/p2

Shelf Number: 146021

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Criminal Justice Reform
Prison
Prison Reform
Religion

Author: Polinsky, A. Mitchell

Title: Deterrence and the Optimal Use of Prison, Parole, and Probation

Summary: In this article we derive the sentence - choosing among the sanctions of prison, parole, and probation - that achieves a target level of deterrence at least cost. Potential offenders discount the future disutility of sanctions and the state discounts the future costs of sanctions. Prison has higher disutility and higher cost per unit time than parole and probation, but the cost of prison per unit of disutility can be lower or higher than the cost of parole and probation per unit of disutility. The optimal order of sanctions depends on the relative discount rates of potential offenders and the state, and the optimal duration of sanctions depends on the relative costs per unit of disutility among the sanctions and on the target level of deterrence. We focus on the case in which potential offenders discount the disutility of sanctions at a higher rate than the state discounts the costs of sanctions. In this case, if prison is more cost-effective than parole and probation - that is, has a lower cost per unit of disutility - prison should be used exclusively. If prison is less cost-effective than parole and probation, probation should be used if the deterrence target is low enough, and prison followed by parole should be used if the deterrence target is relatively high. Notably, it may be optimal to employ a prison term even if prison is less cost-effective than parole and probation and even if prison is not needed to achieve the target level of deterrence, because of what we refer to as the front-loading advantage of imprisonment.

Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2017. 50p.

Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working paper No. 23436: Stanford Law and Economics Olin Working Paper No. 507: Accessed May 22, 2017 at:

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 145662

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Deterrence
Imprisonment
Parole
Prison
Probation
Punishment
Sentencing

Author: Rope, Olivia

Title: Global Prison Trends 2018: a global view on the state of prisons

Summary: Every year, Global Prison Trends by Penal Reform International (in collaboration with the Thailand Institute of Justice) provides us with a global view on the state of prisons. And, every year, this report is, unfortunately, hardly a surprise - we read about the degrading conditions in which people are imprisoned, and about their growing number. Yet the level of crime in most societies is constantly decreasing. The question that remains unanswered, therefore, is why our societies focus their response to unlawful behaviours so often on prison? Where is the proportionality in sentencing when we punish nonviolent offences with lengthy prison sentences? Is this the only response we can offer? The chapter on drugs and imprisonment in this report highlights that a high number of prisons in the world are overcrowded due to the incarceration of people for drug-related offences, in particular non-violent offences involving use and possession for personal use. This directly reflects our contemporary addiction to punishment and showcases the disproportionality of punishment in relation to the offence. The use of harsh prison sentences for people who use drugs or for those who play a minor role in the drug trade also shows the inefficiency, limitations and perverse effects of current drug control policies. Not only are punishment and incarceration becoming the sole instruments used to enforce the law, but also they are serving to implement moral norms which have no link with the reality of the offence that they are supposed to punish. This trend of over-incarceration and punishment of people who use drugs is seen on every continent. The deep impact it has on prison systems and on people in prison and their communities has sparked the current global debate on drug policy reform. In recent years, more and more countries have been introducing amendments to their drug laws; for example, by decriminalising the use of drugs in Norway and Colombia, and by replacing prison terms with monetary fines in Ghana and Tunisia or with community service, as envisaged in Senegal. Other countries have gone even further. Ecuador gave an amnesty to drug couriers and released thousands of prisoners. Countries that have traditionally adopted harsh stances on drugs, such as Malaysia and Iran, are reviewing their death penalty policies for drug offences, and removing people from death row. These changes and reforms are being discussed and implemented in a global environment that remains highly stigmatising, where drugs are still considered 'evil' and prohibition approaches prevail. They are therefore born out of a real need - the need for societies to stop exposing their citizens to greater risks from arrests related to drug use than come from the act of using drugs

Details: London: Penal Reform International; Bangkok: Thailand Institute of Justice, 2018. 60p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2018 at: https://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PRI_Global-Prison-Trends-2018_EN_WEB.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: International

URL: https://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PRI_Global-Prison-Trends-2018_EN_WEB.pdf

Shelf Number: 150332

Keywords:
Drug Offenders
Drugs and Crime
Offender Reentry
Offender Rehabilitation
Prison
Prison Population
Prisoners

Author: International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Title: Behind the Walls: A look at conditions in Thailand's prisons after the coup

Summary: Thailand's prison population has steadily increased over the years and the country has the dubious distinction of having the largest prison population and the highest incarceration rate among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. For more than a decade, United Nations (UN) human rights mechanisms have expressed concern over prison conditions in Thailand. Regrettably, successive Thai governments have failed to make any progress in the implementation of the UN's recommendations and to uphold their own commitments to improve prison conditions. In addition, since the 2014 military coup, Thailand's junta has enforced measures that have caused conditions in the prisons to deteriorate. The junta also increased the use of military facilities to detain civilians. As documented in this report, Thailand's ongoing failure to enact a comprehensive prison reform has created conditions for human rights violations to be rife in its prison system in breach of the country's obligations under international instruments to which it is a state party. The Thai Department of Corrections' motto, 'Caring Custody, Meaningful Rehabilitation, International Standard Achievement', could not be further from the reality of the Thai prison system. Research conducted by FIDH and UCL on two large prisons in Bangkok suggests that Thailand's prison conditions fail to meet international standards and to create an environment conducive to the rehabilitation of prisoners. Overcrowding remains the most pressing issue in Thai prisons. Thailand’s average yearly prison population has steadily increased over the years and, aside from the periodic royal amnesties, no other effective and sustainable measures have been adopted to significantly reduce the population. Based on a standard to provide a surface area per prisoner of 2.25m , available official statistics representing 74% of Thailand's prisons and 91% of its overall prison population show that these prisons are operating with a prison population of more than double the intended capacity - with an occupancy level of 224%. Inadequate access to medical treatment, insufficient food and potable water, and poor sanitation facilities continue to plague the prisons examined in this report. It is likely that similar conditions exist in other prisons across Thailand. Medical care and special arrangements for pregnant women are particularly lacking. Prisoners are often subjected to exploitative labor practices characterized by harsh working conditions and insufficient remuneration. Punishment in prisons contravenes international standards and, in some cases, may amount to torture and ill-treatment. Prisoners' statements indicate that restraining devices, such as shackles, have been excessively used. Finally, inmates have reported unreasonable restrictions placed on visits and correspondence with family and friends. While procedures for making complaints exist, prisoners are afraid to lodge complaints out of fear of retaliation at the hands of prison officials. The situation has not improved since the 22 May 2014 military coup. Under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) access to prisons has become more difficult. In addition, based on interviews with former prisoners and families of current inmates, FIDH and UCL were able to document that prison authorities have enforced stricter prison regulations and further curtailed prisoners' rights. Of particular concern is the increased use of military bases to detain civilians, which do not afford detainees many of their basic rights. The use of the Nakhon Chaisri temporary detention facility inside the 11th Army Circle base in Bangkok illustrates this trend. Since the establishment of Nakhon Chaisri less than two years ago, there has been a lack of access for independent monitors, two custodial deaths, and allegations of torture have surfaced. This report recommends numerous measures to improve detention conditions, including providing independent inspection bodies unfettered access to all prisons and allowing non-governmental organizations with a relevant mandate to conduct visits to places of detention, interview inmates, and assess conditions without undue hindrance.

Details: Paris: FIDH, 2017. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 4, 2018 at: https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/rapport_thailand_688a_web.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Thailand

URL: https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/rapport_thailand_688a_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 150332

Keywords:
Human Rights Abuses
Prison
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prisoners

Author: Howard, Flora Fitzalan

Title: Understanding the Process and Experience of Recall to Prison

Summary: This research was conducted to develop an evidence-based and systematic approach for the management of determinate sentenced prisoners on standard recall. The number of recalled prisoners in custody has steadily increased over time, with the largest proportion at any one time being on 'standard' recall, and many remaining in custody until the end of their sentences. Thus, the focus was on standard recalled prisoners and the re-release process. The work had four strands: a Risk, Need and Responsivity profile of recalled prisoners; two qualitative investigations of the experience of recall for men and for women; and a survey of Offender Managers (OMs) and recalled prisoners. The aim was to identify the obstacles and opportunities in the current re-release process, and identify ways for recall to become more rehabilitative. Key findings - Recalled prisoners had high levels of risk and need, and complex responsivity issues. Many of them would be suitable for, and might benefit from, cognitive skills and violence interventions to enable them to address their needs and progress to re-release. - Prisoners and OMs had different perceptions of how much prisoners understood recall, how much they communicated with each other, and the impact of recall on their relationship. - In interviews and surveys, recalled prisoners described their recall as unjust, finding it hard to trust the process or those involved. They could feel stranded, confused about what was expected of them, or felt they were not supported, communicated with or included enough in decisions. - Interview and survey findings showed that prisoners found recall distressing and associated with loss. They found recall to be solely punitive, not rehabilitative. Prisoners' meaningful engagement and relationships with OMs could be negatively affected when recalled. - Recalled prisoners continued to show motivation to change, determination to have a different future, and some wanted more opportunities to achieve this. - For women, the period immediately before and after their initial release emerged as the time of particular vulnerability. - OMs appeared to generally have good understanding and confidence in using the recall and re-release processes. They worked to keep in touch with the prisoners they managed. - OMs experienced barriers to progressing cases. These included external factors (e.g. a lack of access to interventions and accommodation) and internal barriers (e.g. poor prisoner motivation to engage with their OM following recall). Delays in helping prisoners progress to re-release were reportedly due to difficulties establishing frequent contact, heavy workloads and insufficient time. - If recall is to become more rehabilitative, engage prisoners and help them achieve earlier re-release, the findings of this research emphasise the need to refine recall and re-release processes to include better communication and relationships between those involved. - Small sample sizes, particularly of OMs surveyed, may reduce the generalisability of the research findings.

Details: United Kingdom: HM Prison and Probation Service, 2018. 13p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 8, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/723265/Understanding_the_process_and_experience_of_recall_to_prison.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/723265/Understanding_the_process_and_experience_of_recall_to_prison.pdf

Shelf Number: 151444

Keywords:
Determinate Sentencing
Incarceration
Prison
Prisoners
Recall
Rehabilitation

Author: Walmsley, Roy

Title: World Prison Population List: twelfth edition

Summary: This twelfth edition of the World Prison Population List gives details of the number of prisoners held in 223 prison systems in independent countries and dependent territories. It shows the differences in the levels of imprisonment across the world and makes possible an estimate of the world prison population total. The figures include both pre-trial detainees/remand prisoners and those who have been convicted and sentenced. The information is the latest available at the end of September 2018. The data are presented in two parts. Part one, tables 1-5, sets out prison population totals, rates and trends for each individual country. Part two, tables 6-8, provides data on prison population totals, rates and trends by continent, and shows that in recent years a number of countries have recorded substantial changes in prison population levels (some increases and some decreases).

Details: London: Institute for Criminal Policy Research, 2018. 19p.

Source: Internet Resource: World Prison Brief: Accessed November 15, 2018 at: http://www.prisonstudies.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/wppl_12.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: International

URL: http://www.prisonstudies.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/wppl_12.pdf

Shelf Number: 153472

Keywords:
Criminal Justice Statistics
Prison
Prisoners

Author: Cornell Law School’s Avon Global Center for Women and Justice and International Human Rights Clinic

Title: Judged for More Than Her Crime: A Global Overview of Women Facing the Death Penalty

Summary: We estimate that at least 500 women are currently on death rows around the world. While exact figures are impossible to obtain, we further estimate that over 100 women have been executed in the last ten years - and potentially hundreds more. The number of women facing execution is not dramatically different from the number of juveniles currently on death row, but the latter have received a great deal more attention from international human rights bodies, national courts, scholars, and advocates. This report aims to shed light on this much-neglected population. Few researchers have sought to obtain information about the crimes for which women have been sentenced to death, the circumstances of their lives before their convictions, and the conditions under which they are detained on death row. As a result, there is little empirical data about women on death row, which impedes advocates from understanding patterns in capital sentencing and the operation of gender bias in the criminal legal system. To the extent that scholars have focused on women on death row, they have concluded that they are beneficiaries of gender bias that operates in their favor. While it is undeniable that women are protected from execution under certain circumstances (particularly mothers of infants and young children) and that women sometimes benefit from more lenient sentencing, those that are sentenced to death are subjected to multiple forms of gender bias. Most women have been sentenced to death for the crime of murder, often in relation to the killing of family members in a context of gender-based violence. Others have been sentenced to death for drug offenses, terrorism, adultery, witchcraft, and blasphemy, among other offenses. Although they represent a tiny minority of all prisoners sentenced to death, their cases are emblematic of systemic failings in the application of capital punishment. Women in conflict with the law are particularly vulnerable to abuse and other rights violations, either at the police station, during trial, or while incarcerated. Women are more likely than men to be illiterate, which affects their ability to understand and participate in their own defense. For example, of the 12 women on India's death row in 2015, six have never attended school. Illiteracy also increases their vulnerability to coercion, heightening the risk of false confessions. In certain countries, particularly in the Gulf states, most death-sentenced women are foreign migrant workers who are subject to discriminatory treatment. Mental illness and intellectual disability are common among women facing the death penalty. In Pakistan, Kanizan Bibi has been on death row since 1989, when she was only 16-years-old. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, she cannot care for herself in the most basic ways and has lost all awareness of her surroundings. Although she is now confined in a psychiatric hospital, she remains under sentence of death. Many women enter prison as long-term survivors of gender-based violence and harsh socioeconomic deprivation. We have documented several cases of women convicted of crimes committed while they were minors, often in the context of child marriage. These factors receive little attention from lawyers and courts. In many death penalty jurisdictions, gender-based violence is not considered at sentencing. Few lawyers present such evidence, and even where they do, the courts often discount it. In mandatory death penalty jurisdictions, a woman's prior history as a survivor of physical or sexual abuse is simply irrelevant, since the death penalty is automatically imposed for death-eligible offenses without consideration of the offender's background or the circumstances of the crime. Our research also indicates that women who are seen as violating entrenched norms of gender behavior are more likely to receive the death penalty. In several cases documented in this report, women facing the death penalty have been cast as the "femme fatale," the "child murderer," or the "witch." The case of Brenda Andrew in the United States is illustrative. In her capital trial, the prosecution aired details of her sexual history under the guise of establishing her motive to kill her husband. The jury was allowed to hear about Brenda's alleged extramarital affairs from years before the murder, as well as details about outfits she wore. The trial court also permitted the prosecutor to show the underwear found in the suitcase in her possession after she fled to Mexico, because it showed that she was not behaving as "a grieving widow, but as a free fugitive living large on a Mexico beach." As one Justice of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma noted, Brenda was put on trial not only for the murder of her husband but for being "a bad wife, a bad mother, and a bad woman." Death row conditions around the world are harsh and at times life-threatening for both men and women. In China, for example, all death row inmates, including women, are shackled at all times by their hands and feet. Women face certain deprivations, however, that do not affect the male population to the same extent. Some death sentenced women must also care for infants or young children who are incarcerated alongside them. Meriam Ibrahim, sentenced to death in Sudan for apostasy in 2014, was shackled to heavy chains in prison while eight months pregnant and caring for a young child. In Thailand and Myanmar, inmates have reportedly given birth alone in prison. In many countries, it is challenging or impossible for women to access sanitary pads or other menstruation products. In Zambia, for example, women must make do with rags that they struggle to clean without soap. The social stigma associated with women who are convicted and imprisoned, paired in some cases with restrictive family and child visitation rules, means that many female death row inmates around the world suffer an enduring lack of family contact, contributing to the high levels of depression suffered by women prisoners. Women on death row may also be denied access to occupational training and educational programs. For instance, the general female prison population in Thailand has access to work programs, but death row inmates do not. One woman in Ghana explained, after being denied educational opportunities while on death row: "I don't do anything. I sweep and I wait." Our country profiles aim to provide a snapshot of women facing the death penalty in several major regions of the world. The stories of women on death row provide anecdotal evidence of the particular forms of oppression and inhumane treatment documented in this report. It is our hope that this initial publication, the first of its kind, will inspire the international community to pay greater attention to the troubling plight of women on death row worldwide.

Details: Ithaca, NY: Cornell Law School, 2018. 62p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 23, 2018 at: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/7202

Year: 2018

Country: International

URL: http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/pdf/judged-for-more-than-her-crime.pdf

Shelf Number: 153113

Keywords:
Capital Punishment
Death Penalty
Death Row
Executions
Females
Gender Based Punishment
Gender Based Violence
Gender Bias
Gender Issues
Imprisonment
Intellectual Disability
Mental Health Issues
Prison
Prisoners

Author: Florida. Legislature. Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability

Title: Corrections' Contraband Effort is Sound; Cell Phone Penalties and Warden Consistency are Needed

Summary: Florida compares favorably to other states in its efforts to control contraband in prisons, using narcotic canine teams, contraband sweeps, visitor and officer pat searches, and metal detectors at all prisons. While random drug tests show that Florida has a relatively low rate of inmate drug use, other types of contraband, notably cell phones, are a growing problem. Cell phones are considered to be contraband under Department of Corrections’ policy due to their potential use by inmates to arrange escapes and orchestrate crime inside and outside prison. The Legislature may wish to revise the law so that persons that provide and use contraband cell phones can be prosecuted. The department’s ability to control contraband also would be enhanced by improving its computer system that tracks contraband incidents, providing additional training to prison employees, and developing a statewide policy to guide wardens in sanctioning visitors who bring contraband on prison property.

Details: Tallahassee, FL: Florida Legislature, 2008. 8p

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 18, 2018 at: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/Summary.aspx?reportNum=08-20

Year: 2008

Country: United States

URL: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/reports/pdf/0820rpt.pdf

Shelf Number: 154025

Keywords:
Cell Phones
Contraband Sweeps
Control Contraband
Department of Corrections Policy
Drug Tests
Florida
Metal Detectors
Narcotic Canine Team
Prison

Author: Santos, Thandara

Title: Levantamento Nacional de Informacoes Penitenciarias Infopen Mulheres (National Survey of Penitentiary Information Infopen Women)

Summary: Introduction This report, which seeks to systematize the information available on the women incarcerated in Brazil, was carried out from the survey data National Penitentiary Information System - Infopen, whose reference period was the month of June 2014, and accessed records provided by 1,424 prison units in every state and federal penitentiary system. The statistical information system of the Brazilian penitentiary system, created in 2004, passed in 2014 for important reformulations in their methodology and collection mechanisms, in order to qualify the information provided to society. However, despite the continued efforts of the National Penitentiary improvement of procedures for collecting information at the units the gaps in the information provided by units and thus to base our analyzes and inferences on the available data, always pointing to the caveats of its scope. In the survey carried out for the period of June 2014, the last data available, the information regarding the state of Sao Paulo could not be obtained through the collection system developed by DEPEN and were collected directly from the Secretariat of Administration State Penitentiary in April 2015. In this effort, general information about the state for the types of establishments, number of places and total prison population. All other profile information about people deprived of their liberty and the infrastructure of the prison system for the state of Sao Paulo were excluded from the present survey. In the general summary of the prison population in June 2014, published by The National Penitentiary Department also includes information on persons custodians of police stations or similar establishments managed by by the Secretariats of Public Security. Information on this population was collected from the National Secretariat of Public Security, the Ministry of Justice and a total of 27,950 people in custody. Added to the data collected together to Infopen, we have a total prison population of 607,731 people deprived of throughout the country in June 2014. When analyzing the characteristics of this population with a gender cut, In this report's focus, it is necessary to highlight the gaps in the information collected different sources. If we analyze the historical series from 2000 to 2014, it is identify the absence of gender-disaggregated data for persons in custody in precincts and precincts in the years 2003 and 2014, as summarized in Figure 1 below. With regard to information on women in custody in managed units Security Secretariats, it is necessary to consider the data gaps for the years of 2003 and 2014, which prevent us from using the information for the analysis of the series historical. In this sense, for the purposes of this report, only the information from Infopen, informed by prisons through online surveys and disaggregated by gender. For analysis of the historical series, information from all states of the Federation shall be considered. In order to analyze the profile of the female population incarcerated in 2014, however, disregarded the information of the state of Sao Paulo, since the state did not participated in the survey.

Details: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: DEPEN, 2014. 42p.

Source: Internet Resource (in Portuguese): Accessed January 16, 2019 at: http://www.justica.gov.br/news/estudo-traca-perfil-da-populacao-penitenciaria-feminina-no-brasil/relatorio-infopen-mulheres.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Brazil

URL: http://depen.gov.br/DEPEN/depen/sisdepen/infopen-mulheres

Shelf Number: 154201

Keywords:
Brazil
Female Prison Population
Gender
Incarcerated Women
Incarceration
National Penitentiary Department
National Penitentiary Information System
Prison
Prison Population
Women Offenders

Author: National Research Council

Title: Figures from the NRC Report: The Growth of Incarceration in the United States: Exploring Causes and Consequences

Summary: Powerpoint presentation outlining the Growth of Incarceration in the United States - Exploring Causes and Consequences

Details: Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2014. 22p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 21, 2019 at: http://www.nationalacademies.org/nasem/

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.nationalacademies.org/nasem/

Shelf Number: 154328

Keywords:
Federal Prison
Imprisonment
Incarceration
Incarceration Rates
Prison
Prison Trends
State Prison

Author: Arooj

Title: Faith, Family, and Crime: An Exploration of Muslim Families' Involvement with the Criminal Justice System and its Impact on their Health and Social Needs

Summary: AIMS The main aims of this research project were: - To investigate the extent to which a family member's involvement with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) affects Muslim families and their social and health needs. The areas explored range across: - the attitudes of Muslim families towards offenders/ex-offenders in their household; - some of the barriers faced by Muslim families in accessing mainstream support services; - the role of Muslim families and faith organisations in supporting offenders/ex-offenders. - The findings to benefit Muslim families and policy makers through providing an increased understanding of: - how involvement with the CJS affects relationships within the family (nuclear and extended) and the wider community; the underlying issues that affect - different family members (particularly partners and children) and the levels of awareness, amongst Muslim families, of the support services that are available to them.

Details: London, United Kingdom: Arooj, 2018. 42p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 18, 2019 at: https://www.barrowcadbury.org.uk/project-and-research-publications/

Year: 2018

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.barrowcadbury.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Arooj-Faith-Family-and-Crime-2.pdf

Shelf Number: 154346

Keywords:
Crime
Faith
Family
Islam
Muslim Families
Offenders
Prison

Author: Schiraldi, Vincent

Title: Less is More in New York: An Examination of the Impact of State Parole Violations on Prison and Jail Populations

Summary: As the number of people in New York's state prisons and local jails, including Rikers Island, has been declining, one population is on the rise – persons incarcerated for state parole violations. This, even as city and state leaders agree that the Rikers Island should close and that more attention should be paid to the parole violation issue. This research brief examines this issue in greater detail, focusing on its impact on New York City's jail population at this critical time. It concludes with recommendations to reduce unnecessary incarceration of persons on parole as well as to shrink the overall parole population and focus parole supervision and supports on those who need it the most.

Details: New York, New York: Columbia University Justice Lab, 2018. 14p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 1, 2019 at: https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8RZ0Q06

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8RZ0Q06

Shelf Number: 154760

Keywords:
Community Based Corrections
Jail
New York
Parole Population
Parole Violations
Pretrial Detention
Prison

Author: HM Inspectorate of Prisons

Title: Children in Custody 2017-18: An Analysis of 12-18 Year Olds' Perceptions of Their Experiences in Secure Training Centres and Young Offender Institutions

Summary: Key findings This independent report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), commissioned by the Youth Justice Board (YJB), presents the findings from 686 surveys completed by children detained at every secure training centre (STC) (N=3) and young offender institution (YOI) (N=5, plus a separate specialist unit at one site) between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018. All surveys were conducted to support unannounced inspections of each establishment. The surveys enable comparisons to be made with the results from 2016-17 and between children with different characteristics or experiences. In relation to STCs, our survey findings during 2017-18 show that: - broadly speaking the profile of children in STCs has not changed since 2016-17: - 42% of all children in STCs identified as being from a black or other minority ethnic background; - 8% of children identified as female; - one in eight (13%) children identified as Muslim; - the proportion who said they were from a Gypsy, Romany or Traveller background was 11%, which compares with estimates of 0.01% in the population as a whole; - over a third of children (34%) reported feeling unsafe at some point since arriving at the STC. Fourteen per cent felt unsafe at the time of the inspection - those children who reported having felt unsafe also reported poorer experiences in the area of victimisation than those who did not; - over half of children (56%) in STCs reported that they had been physically restrained in the centre; - nearly a third of children (30%) reported being victimised by other children by being shouted at through windows. In relation to YOIs, our survey findings during 2017-18 show that: - the profile of boys in YOIs has not changed significantly since 2016-17: - over half (51%) of boys identified as being from a black or minority ethnic background, the highest rate recorded through our surveys in the secure estate; - the proportion of boys who had experienced local authority care was 39%; - nearly a quarter (23%) of boys identified as Muslim; - almost one-fifth (19%) of boys reported having a disability; - fewer than one boy in 10 (6%) identified themselves as being from a Gypsy, Romany or Traveller background; - half of children (50%) reported that they had been physically restrained in their establishment; - when asked if they had ever felt unsafe at their establishment, 40% of boys said they had felt unsafe; - children who had felt unsafe were more likely than other children to report negatively across a range of areas of daily life, such as relationships with staff and victimisation from both other children and members of staff, suggesting that that strategies to help children feel safer should focus on addressing a range of issues. A comparison between the survey responses of young people held in YOIs and STCs during 2017-18 showed that children in STCs were more likely to report that staff treated them with respect (87% compared with 64% in YOIs).

Details: London, UK: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2019. 52p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 3, 2019 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/01/6.5164_HMI_Children-in-Custody-2017-18_A4_v10_web.pdf

Year: 2019

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/inspections/children-in-custody-2017-18/

Shelf Number: 154756

Keywords:
At-Risk Youths
Children
England
Juvenile Detention Center
Juveniles
Prison
Secure Training Center
Young Offender Institute
Youth Justice Board
Youths

Author: Florida. Legislature. Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability

Title: Diverting Low-Risk Offenders from Florida Prisons

Summary: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2018, Florida had 143 prison facilities, including 50 major institutions housing 96,253 inmates. Florida's inmate population is the third largest state prison population in the United States. The Florida Department of Corrections' total budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18 was $2.4 billion, with the estimated cost to house an inmate at $59.57 per day, or $21,743 annually. Over the past 8 years, both admissions to prison and prison population have decreased. However, Florida continues to have the 10th highest incarceration rate in the United States at 500 per 100,000. There are multiple points at which offenders can be diverted from the path between arrest and prison, and Florida currently uses many of these diversion programs. Diversion programs include pretrial intervention, plea bargaining, problem-solving courts, and probation. Probation and plea bargaining are the most utilized types of diversion in Florida. Our analysis finds that there are additional lowerrisk offenders who could be diverted from prison, which could likely result in reduced recidivism and long-term cost savings. As such, the Legislature may want to consider various options for diverting additional offenders from prison. This review answers five questions: - How are offenders sentenced in Florida? - What factors influence Florida’s incarceration rate? - How does prison diversion occur in Florida? - Are there low-risk offenders who could be diverted from prison? - What options exist for diverting low-risk offenders from prison?

Details: Tallahassee. Florida: The Florida Legislature, Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, 2019. 27p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 3, 2019 at: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/summary.aspx?reportnum=19-01

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/1901rpt.pdf

Shelf Number: 154754

Keywords:
Incarceration Rate
Low-Risk Offenders
Offender
Plea Bargaining
Prison
Probation

Author: Rivera, Lorena

Title: Ninos, Ninas y Adolescentes con Madres y Padres Encarcelados por Delitos de Drogas Menores no Violentos (Children, Girls and Adolescents with Mothers and Parents Imprisoned for Violent Minor Drug Offenses)

Summary: This report is an exploratory study that seeks to shed light on what happens with children and adolescents (NNA, from now on) when their primary caregivers or some significant adult for them has been deprived of liberty for minor drug offenses. Currently, there is little information about the impact that prison has on the lives of children and adolescents and, to a lesser extent, when the crime committed is for motives of micro-traffic or traffic of drugs. This report consists of three chapters and a final section with conclusions and recommendations. The first chapter describes the regulatory framework applicable to the problem in question. The Second chapter presents statistical data on the population deprived of liberty in Chile and the third a qualitative analysis based on a series of interviews with children and parents deprived of liberty (NNAPES, from now on) and adults who have worked with them; In particular, different topics related to the perception of children and adolescents about the imprisonment for drug offenses of their adult referents. Finally, based on the existing regulations, data obtained and case analysis are recommendations punctual for the visibility of the NNAPES and the restitution of their rights.

Details: New York: Church World Service (CWS), 2018. 46p.

Source: Internet Resource (in Spanish): Accessed June 3, 2019 at: http://www.cwslac.org/nnapes-pdd/es

Year: 2018

Country: Chile

URL: http://www.cwslac.org/nnapes-pdd/docs/PDD-Chile.pdf

Shelf Number: 156135

Keywords:
Child Abuse
Chile
Drug Abuse
Drug Offenses
Incarceration
Prison

Author: Knoth, L.

Title: Washington State Adult and Juvenile Recidivism Trends: FY 1995 - FY 2014

Summary: Previous reports published by WSIPP have shown a gradual decline in recidivism for adults released from prison through the 1990s and early 2000s. This report updates our review of recidivism trends for adults released from prison and expands the scope of our report to include youth populations and additional adult populations. This report provides a high-level overview of general changes in Washington State recidivism trends from FY 1995-FY 2014. The report analyzes recidivism for four samples of criminal justice-involved populations: adults convicted of a criminal offense, adults released from incarceration in prison, youth convicted of a criminal offense, and youth released from a commitment in a Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) facility. Consistent with our prior reports, our analyses found gradual declines in overall recidivism for all four populations from FY 1995-FY 2014. However, examination of recidivism trends by type of recidivism, type of initial offense, and demographic characteristics indicates that the magnitude of the decline in recidivism varied among different sub-populations.

Details: Olympia, Washington: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2019. 54p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2019 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1703/Wsipp_Washington-State-Adult-and-Juvenile-Recidivism-Trends-FY-1995-FY-2014_Report.pdf

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: https://www.wsipp.wa.gov/Publications

Shelf Number: 156166

Keywords:
Incarceration
Juvenile Rehabilitation
Offender Rehabilitation
Prison
Recidivism

Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Title: The Health of Australia's Prisoners 2018

Summary: The health and well-being of people in prison are also those of the community. People in contact with the criminal justice system have higher rates of homelessness and unemployment and often come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. People leaving prison are members of society needing employment, housing, health care, and other support services in the community to maintain and improve health and well-being, and reduce the likelihood of returning to prison. On 30 June 2018, there were about 43,000 people in Australia's prisons. Most people in prison were either on remand (32%), or serving sentences under 5 years in length (62%), and thousands of people cycle through the prison system each year (ABS 2018a). People in prison have significant and complex health needs, which are often long-term or chronic in nature. They have higher rates of mental health conditions, chronic disease, communicable disease, acquired brain injury, tobacco smoking, high-risk alcohol consumption, recent illicit drug use, and recent injecting drug use, than the general population (AIHW 2015). Improving the health and well-being of people in prison, and maintaining those improvements after prison, benefits the entire community. This report presents the results of the 5th National Prisoner Health Data Collection (NPHDC), which was conducted in 2018. 3 in 4 prison entrants had previously been in prison - Most people (73%) entering prison had been in prison before, and almost half (45%) of prison entrants had been in prison within the previous 12 months. Male prison entrants were more likely to have extensive prison histories than female entrants. More than one-third (35%) of male entrants had been in prison 5 or more times, compared with 15% of female entrants. Indigenous prison entrants were more likely than non-Indigenous entrants to have an extensive prison history. Almost half (43%) of Indigenous entrants had been in prison at least 5 times before, compared with 25% of non-Indigenous entrants. 2 in 5 prison entrants had been told they had a mental health condition, with almost 1 in 4 currently taking mental health-related medication - About 2 in 5 prison entrants (40%) and prison dischargees (37%) reported a previous diagnosis of a mental health condition, including alcohol and other drug use disorders. Women were more likely than men to report: - a history of a mental health condition (65% compared with 36%); - taking medication for a mental health condition (40% compared with 21%). Non-Indigenous prison entrants (26%) were more likely than Indigenous entrants (19%) to report currently taking medication for a mental health condition. 3 in 4 deaths in prison custody were due to natural causes - Between 2013-14 and 2014-15, 115 people died in prison. Almost 3 in 4 (71%) of these deaths were from natural causes, and 1 in 4 (25%) were due to suicide or self-inflicted causes. 1 in 5 prison entrants reported a history of self-harm - More than 1 in 5 (21%) prison entrants reported a history of self-harm. Women entering prison (31%) were 1.5 times as likely as men (20%) to report a history of self-harm. More than 1 in 4 (26%) younger prison entrants (aged 18-24) reported a history of self-harm, higher than any other age group. Almost 3 in 10 younger prison entrants had a family history of incarceration - Almost 1 in 5 (18%) prison entrants reported that one or more parents or carers had been in prison when they were a child. This was more likely among Indigenous entrants (31%) than non-Indigenous entrants (11%). Younger prison entrants (27% of those aged 18-24) were almost 3 times as likely as older entrants (10% of those aged 45 and over) to have had a parent or carer in prison during their childhood. 3 in 4 prison entrants were current smokers - Most (75%) prison entrants said they were current smokers. Indigenous prison entrants (80%) were more likely than non-Indigenous entrants (73%), and women (86%) were more likely than men (73%) to be current smokers. More than 2 in 5 (41%) prison entrants who were current smokers said that they would like to quit. Almost 2 in 3 prison entrants reported using illicit drugs in the previous year Almost two-thirds (65%) of prison entrants reported using illicit drugs during the previous 12 months. Female prison entrants (74%) were more likely to report recent illicit drug use than male entrants (64%), and non-Indigenous entrants (66%) were more likely than Indigenous entrants (63%). Methamphetamine was the most common illicit drug used, followed by cannabis. Almost 1 in 6 (16%) prison dischargees reported using illicit drugs in prison, and 1 in 12 (8%) said they had injected drugs in prison. About 1 in 3 prison entrants had a high-school education level of Year 9 or under - Prison entrants were asked about the highest level of schooling that they had completed - one-third (33%) said Year 9 or under, and 17% said Year 8 or under. About 1 in 4 (25%) Indigenous prison entrants had completed Year 11 or 12 at school, compared with 41% of non-Indigenous entrants. Indigenous entrants (24%) were more likely than non-Indigenous entrants (10%) to report that their highest level of completed schooling was Year 8 or under. Almost 1 in 3 (30%) prison entrants had a chronic physical health condition Almost one-third (30%) of prison entrants said they had a history of at least 1 of the following chronic physical health conditions - arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. Asthma (22%) was the most common chronic physical health condition reported. Almost half (45%) of female entrants had a history of a chronic condition, compared with almost 3 in 10 (28%) male entrants. Of the prison entrants tested for blood-borne viruses, 1 in 5 tested positive for hepatitis C - In 2016, more than 1 in 5 (22%) prison entrants tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies - about 1 in 5 (21%) male prison entrants and more than 1 in 4 (28%) female prison entrants (Butler & Simpson 2017). About half (50%) of the prison entrants who had previously injected drugs had positive hepatitis C antibody tests - 52% of males, and 45% of females. More than 1 in 2 prison dischargees expected they would be homeless on release Homelessness is far more common among people in contact with the prison system than among people in the general community. About one-third (33%) of prison entrants said they were homeless in the 4 weeks before prison - 28% were in short-term or emergency accommodation, and 5% were in unconventional housing or sleeping rough. More than half (54%) of prison dischargees expected to be homeless on release from prison, with 44% planning to sleep in short term or emergency accommodation, 2% planning to sleep rough, and 8% did not know where they would sleep.

Details: Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018. 203p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2019 at: https://apo.org.au/node/238771

Year: 2018

Country: Australia

URL: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2019/05/apo-nid238771-1362216.pdf

Shelf Number: 156209

Keywords:
Correctional Health
Homelessness
Prison
Prisoner Health
Prisoner Mental Health
Prisoner Suicide
Prisoner Wellbeing
Recidivism

Author: Worwood, Erin B.

Title: Statewide Evaluation of Utah Mental Health Courts: Phase I

Summary: This report provides details on the programs, participants, eligibility criteria, and methods/outcomes used to study 43 MHCs across the United States, Australia, and Canada. It also describes the program components, target populations, and available data for the nine MHCs in Utah. Both the Utah MHCs and the studies included in this review reflect significant heterogeneity in terms of program and study components. Unfortunately, these differences limit the generalizability of findings across programs. Nevertheless, this report provides a detailed cataloguing of methods used to evaluate the impact of MHCs and can be used to inform discussions as a statewide evaluation plan is finalized.

Details: Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah, Utah Criminal Justice Center and College of Social Work, 2015. 59p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 7, 2019 at: https://socialwork.utah.edu/_resources/documents/ucjc-reports/statewide-ut-mhc-study_part-1-report.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: International

URL: https://socialwork.utah.edu/research/reports/posts/statewide-mental-health-court-study/index.php

Shelf Number: 156208

Keywords:
Disabilities
Human Rights
Jails
Mental Health Courts
Mental Hospitals
Mental Illness
Prison
Reentry

Author: Hastings, Justine S.

Title: Predicting High-Risk Opioid Prescriptions Before They are Given

Summary: Misuse of prescription opioids is a leading cause of premature death in the United States. We use new state government administrative data and machine learning methods to examine whether the risk of future opioid dependence, abuse, or poisoning can be predicted in advance of an initial opioid prescription. Our models accurately predict these outcomes and identify particular prior non-opioid prescriptions, medical history, incarceration, and demographics as strong predictors. Using our model estimates, we simulate a hypothetical policy which restricts new opioid prescriptions to only those with low predicted risk. The policy's potential benefits likely outweigh costs across demographic subgroups, even for lenient definitions of "high risk." Our findings suggest new avenues for prevention using state administrative data, which could aid providers in making better, data-informed decisions when weighing the medical benefits of opioid therapy against the risks.

Details: Cambridge, Massachusetts: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2019. 34p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 7, 2019 at: https://www.nber.org/papers/w25791

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: https://www.nber.org/papers/w25791.pdf

Shelf Number: 156224

Keywords:
Drug Abuse
Incarceration
Opioid Crisis
Opioid Epidemic
Opioid Therapy
Prescription Abuse
Prison

Author: Thoresen, Beate

Title: Project: "Penal Justice and Gender" Instituto de Estudios Comparados en Ciencias Penales de Guatemala (ICCPG) (Institute of Comparative Studies in Criminal Sciences of Guatemala)

Summary: Background: The Penal Justice and Gender project (JUSPEGUE) implemented by the Institute of Comparative Studies in Penal Science in Guatemala (ICCPG) started in 2003 and is still in progress in 2007. Based on the ICCPG experience in penal justice research and imprisonment issues, a study on women's situation was initiated because of lack of knowledge and attention to women who are deprived of their freedom. JURK (Legal Advice for Women) is the lead organisation for this project in Norway assisted by FOKUS. The starting point of this project was the lack of knowledge concerning the situation and the first step was to investigate the women's situation in order to be able to develop action strategies. Purpose/objective: The main purpose of this report is to present the results at the end of four years of project implementation. Moreover an assessment of the work efficiency, its relevance in the Guatemalan context and in relation to the FOKUS projects strategy is made. Methodology: This review of the results was developed on the basis of written information about the project and the collection of information through interviews and visits in Guatemala between October 15th and November 10th 2006. Key findings: An important result of this project is the existence of a watch dog for the rights of women deprived of their freedom by the penal system. This did not exist before; and the fact that this now exists puts more pressure on the authorities who are responsible to guarantee the respect for the women's human rights. To guarantee respect for women rights in this situation is a long-term task in a system such as the Guatemalan one and it is vital that such a watch dog function exists.This review concludes that the project has complied satisfactorily with its specific objectives; The conditions for incorporating a gender perspective in the penal justice system are better today than four years ago. Knowledge has been created; mass media pays attention; more actors include the issue of women and penal justice in their agenda; there is pressure towards the authorities to improve the situation and some of the proposals from ICCPG have been implemented by the authorities. Civil servants have access to tools for gender analysis within the penal system and in the application of the law, many have received training and there are examples of application of gender analysis in trials against women. Mechanisms and instruments for monitoring of the situation of women in prison have been created; the cases of strategic litigation are creating juridical precedents and ICCPG has contributed to the approval of a new law regulating the penal system.

Details: S.L.: Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS), 2007. 21p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2019 at: https://norad.no/globalassets/import-2162015-80434-am/www.norad.no-ny/filarkiv/ngo-evaluations/review-of-results-project_-_penal-justice-and-gender_-instituto-de-estudios-comparados-en-cienci.pdf

Year: 2007

Country: Guatemala

URL: https://norad.no/en/toolspublications/publications/ngo-evaluations/2009/review-of-results-project-penal-justice-and-gender-instituto-de-estudios-comparados-en-ciencias-penales-de-guatemala-iccpg/

Shelf Number: 156807

Keywords:
Gender Analysis
Guatemala
Human Rights
Penal System
Prison