Global Prison Trends 2019
This document is co-published and
produced with financial assistance
from the Thailand Institute of Justice
(TIJ). It is the fifth edition in Penal
Reform International’s (PRI) Global
Prison Trends series.
This report was authored by
Vicki Prais and Frances Sheahan.
The authors drew on information
provided by contributors to PRI’s
expert guest blog series available
at www.penalreform.org/blog and
information kindly provided by
partner organisations. The report
was edited by Martha Crowley.
Its contents are the sole
responsibility of PRI.
This publication may be freely
reviewed, abstracted, reproduced
and translated, in part or in
whole, but not for sale or for use
in conjunction with commercial
purposes. Any changes to the text
of this publication must be approved
by PRI. Due credit must be given to
PRI, the TIJ and to this publication.
Enquiries should be addressed to
publications@penalreform.org
ISBN: 978-1-909521-64-3
First published in May 2019.
© Penal Reform International 2019
Penal Reform International
(PRI) is an independent
non-governmental organisation
that develops and promotes
fair, effective and proportionate
responses to criminal justice
problems worldwide.
We promote alternatives to prison that
support the rehabilitation of offenders,
and promote the right of detainees
to fair and humane treatment. We
campaign for the prevention of torture
and the abolition of the death penalty,
and we work to ensure just and
appropriate responses to children and
women who come into contact with
the law.
We currently have programmes in
the Middle East and North Africa,
Central Asia, the South Caucasus and
Sub-Saharan Africa, and work with
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The Thailand Institute of Justice
(TIJ) is a public organisation
established by the Government
of Thailand in 2011 and officially
recognised by the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime as
the latest member of the United
Nations Crime Prevention and
Criminal Justice Programme
Network Institutes in 2016.
One of the primary objectives of
the TIJ is to promote and support
the implementation of the United
Nations Rules for the Treatment of
Women Prisoners and Non-custodial
Measures for Women Offenders
(the Bangkok Rules).
In addition, the TIJ strives to serve
as a bridge that transports global
ideas to local practices with an
emphasis on fundamental issues
including interconnections between
the rule of law and sustainable
development, human rights, peace
and security.
For more information, please visit
www.tijthailand.org
Thailand Institute of Justice
GPF Building 15th–16th Floor
Witthayu Road, Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
Thailand
+66 2118 9400
Email: info@tijthailand.org
Twitter: @TIJthailand
Facebook: @tijthailand.org
www.tijthailand.org
Acknowledgements
Dr Catherine Appleton, University
of Nottingham
Aisha Osman, Penal Reform
International
Jean-Sébastien Blanc, Association
for the Prevention of Torture
Oscar Ouedraogo, Penal Reform
International
Sunita Stürup-Toft, Public Health
England & WHO UK Collaborating
Centre for Health in Prisons
Programme
Dr Miranda Davies, Nuffield Trust
Jaanki Patel, Penal Reform
International
Dr Philippa Tomczak, University
of Nottingham
Stephen Pitts, Independent
Consultant, community-based justice
Rozelien Van Erdeghem, Penal
Reform International, University
of Vienna
Dr Abigail Dymond, University
of Exeter
Dr Matti Tapani Joutsen, Thailand
Institute of Justice
Dr Ian Marder, Maynooth University
Matthew Mcevoy, Omega Research
Foundation
Marie Nougier, International Drug
Policy Consortium
Cholpon Askerbekovna Omurkanova,
Chair of the Public Council
of the State Service of Execution
of Punishment under the Government
of the Kyrgyz Republic
Dr Emma Plugge, WHO UK
Collaborating Centre for Health in
Prisons Programme, Public Health
England & Tropical Medicine, Nuffield
Department of Medicine, University
of Oxford
Prarthana Rao, Thailand Institute
of Justice
Professor Mary Rogan, Trinity
College Dublin, the University
of Dublin
Chiara Sangiorgio, Amnesty
International
Professor Dirk van Zyl Smit,
University of Nottingham and Chair
of Penal Reform International
Cover photo © Carlos Jasso for Reuters.
Yoga class inside a juvenile detention
centre – part of a voluntary programme
that uses yoga to reduce stress, violence
and addiction amongst detainees in
juvenile centres in Mexico City.
Graphic design by Alex Valy.
Printed on recycled paper, manufactured
using 100% post-consumer waste.