International
The work of IPRT is led by a number of standards developed by international bodies, organisations and courts in relation to imprisonment and wider issues of the State’s penal policy. In particular, our work is based on the commitment to implement in Ireland a human rights-based approach to penal policy.
With this in mind, IPRT’s research, policy and awareness-raising campaigns are developed to support and monitor the implementation in the context of penal policy in Ireland of the United Nations and Council of Europe standards.
The IPRT is also committed to the promotion of best practice examples that have proved effective in other jurisdictions. To this end, we aim to provide a comprehensive library of good practices that can be accessed and used by practitioners, academics, prisoners, and anyone else interested in penal reform and penal policy. The Library is updated on a regular basis to take into account most recent developments in this area.
UK:'PPO's learning lessons bulletin: Older Prisoners'
26th June 2017
The Probation & Prisons Ombudsman of England and Wales, Nigel Newcomen, launched his latest ‘Learning Lessons Bulletin’, which offers insights and recommendations to the prison service with regards to dealing with older prisoners.
Scotland: Families Outside Report on National Framework for Prison Visitors’ Centres in Scotland
19th June 2017
Families Outside have recently published their report on the National Performance Framework for Prison Visitors’ Centres in Scotland. In 2015 the Scottish Government announced that it would be providing £1.8 million over a three-year period to assist the work of Prison Visitor Centres. Any Prison Visitor Centre seeking funding from the Scottish Government will now be required to demonstrate that they can meet the standards set out in this National Performance Framework.
Prison Reform Trust UK Launch 'Out for Good' Report
2nd June 2017
A new report published on 2nd June 2017 by the Prison Reform Trust details findings of a two-year programme at HMP Brixton set up to give practical training and employment opportunities for prisoners and to develop ways in which prisons can set up sustainable training and employment networks to aid in the resettlement of prisoners.
Penal Reform International launch their Global Prison Trends 2017 Report
25th May 2017
Penal Reform International have launched their Global Prison Trends 2017 report in which they have analysed certain trends that have commonality across global penal institutions. They have found some progressive advancements and positive trends but they have also found some trends that are a cause of concern most notably the increase in female prisoners. They report a 50 percent increase in female prisoners since 2010 referencing data from 2015 which shows that the female prison population is increasing at a faster rate than the male prison population.
Council of Europe Produce 'Compendium of Conventions, Recommendations and Resolutions relating to Prisons and Community Sanctions and Measures'
1st May 2017
The Council of Europe have produced a 'Compendium of Conventions, Recommendations and Resolutions relating to prisons, community sanctions and measures' which contains rules, regulations and guidelines supporting European best practice on prison administration and community sanctions.
UK: 'PPO’s learning lessons bulletin: self-inflicted deaths among female prisoners’
28th March 2017
UK Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Nigel Newcomen has highlighted a “lack of concerted and sustained action” following a rise in the number of suicides among female prisoners.
Round-up: Council of Europe 'SPACE I' Annual Penal Statistics in Europe for 2015
22nd March 2017
The Council of Europe have published their Report: SPACE I Annual Penal Statistics in Europe for 2015, containing a detailed breakdown of penological trends across Europe.
National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) Guidance: Isolation in detention
10th February 2017
The NPM in the UK has published a report Isolation in detention (2017) that sets out clear guidance in relation to the practice of isolation in detention and prison settings. The guidance aims to ensure that those subjected to isolation are not adversely impacted by it. The guidelines set out specific standards which should be followed to minimise the effects of isolation on various groups of people including children in custody. Research shows significant differences between the impact of isolation on adults compared to children due to the cognitive development of children and their perceptions of time which differ from those of adults.
UK: Harm & Evidence Research Collaborative (HERC): 'Prison is not a safe place for people with mental health problems'
6th February 2017
Article by Deborah H. Drake and David Scott of The Open University, which states that for those living in extreme environments, such as prison, it becomes difficult to draw a line between mental well-being and diagnosable mental illnesses.
UK Report: ‘Rehabilitation by Design: Influencing Change in Prisoner Behaviour’, by Gleeds UK
20th January 2017
Gleeds UK have released a report that examines the way in which the design of a prison can influence re-offending rates in England and Wales.
