17th April, 2015
Prison overcrowding has reached epidemic proportions in many countries around the world, according to a senior UN official, amid reports the occupancy rate of some prisons has reached almost 400 per cent.
Speaking at a side event to the UN Crime Congress taking place in Doha this week, Piera Barzano, senior regional advisor of the justice section at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), reportedly said that while prison overcrowding can be considered a "sympton of a malfunctioning justice system", solutions are seldom within the reach of prison authorities.
Figures show that in 2014, 77 countries reported having a prisoner occupancy rate higher than 120 per cent – the point at which what is defined as "serious overcrowding" occurs – while some rates reach almost to 400 per cent.
Ms Barzano listed a range of impacts which occur as a result of prison overcrowding. She said not only does it impact the quality of nutrition, sanitation, prisoner-activities, health care services and the care of vulnerable groups within prisons, "(i)t affects the physical, mental health and well-being of all prisoners". "It generates prisoner tension, violence, exacerbates existing mental and physical health problems," she added.
Mr Barzano said there is growing recognition that prison overcrowding is one of the key obstacles to implementing minimum standards with regard to care of the more than 10 million prisoners around the world.
– DAVID ADAMS
