NCJ Number
164115
Date Published
1996
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This United Nations (UN) report contains information received from member countries and other sources on the use and application of Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; drawing on the experience gained from previous surveys, the report takes into account specific recommendations made by the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
Abstract
Almost all countries provided information on the number of persons held in penal institutions, whether these persons were pretrial detainees, sentenced prisoners, or individuals held for other reasons. Nearly all countries reported male and female prisoners were detained in separate facilities. Young prisoners were kept separate from adult prisoners in two-thirds of responding countries. Young prisoners became adult prisoners at 18 years of age in more than half of the responding countries. Untried prisoners were kept separate from convicted prisoners and female prisoners were attended and supervised only by female officers in more than half of the responding countries. About 18 percent of responding countries said prisoners occupied sleeping accommodations in individual cells or rooms, prisoners who shared accommodations were carefully selected as being suitable to associated with each other, and the maximum number of prisoners placed in dormitory accommodations ranged from 10 to 40. In general, most countries reported adequate physical and personal hygiene facilities for prisoners. Less than a third of responding countries reported there was sufficient work to keep all prisoners actively employed, and prisoner wages varied considerably. Prisoners were provided with education in one-third of responding countries, medical and dental services were available to prisoners in almost every responding country, and 75 percent of responding countries said privileges appropriate to prisoner class were available. Most countries provided information to prisoners on regulations governing their treatment, and prisoners were given the opportunity to make requests or complaints to facility directors. Most facilities and services were inspected regularly, many countries provided legal counseling to prisoners, access to a qualified representative of any religion was provided in many countries, and prisoners were generally allowed to have religious books. A comparison of the current survey with a previous survey indicates positive trends in the housing and treatment of prisoners worldwide. Specialists employed in prison systems are listed in a report annex. 1 note and 7 tables