About the Centre for 10 KEYS TO Improving Conditions in Justice and Reconciliation Overcrowded The Centre is the justice reform arm of IMPROVING Fellowship International, an association of Christian NGOs active in over 100 countries. CONDITIONS IN is a major Actually solving prison and jail The Centre assists governments, its affiliates, contributor to problems including overcrowding requires a firm and other NGOs in addressing problems in the • reduced staff morale commitment from the government criminal justice system. OVERCROWDED and cooperation within the justice • security and control difficulties system. The Centre stands ready to assist The Centre promotes policies • increased health and wellbeing governments and justice officials who and practices as a promising approach with PRISONS problems for staff and inmates benefits for victims, communities and offenders. choose to do this, by: • increased levels of conflict and • suggesting practical measures While operating in the Christian tradition, the violence Centre seeks common ground, dialogue and to significantly reduce prison collaboration with people from all backgrounds • failure of rehabilitation resulting in populations and traditions. increased re-offending • offering examples of governments While building or expanding prison that have done so About the 10 Keys capacity can reduce overcrowding there • demonstrating how restorative are things that can be done to improve Criminal justice practitioners around the world justice can help reduce prison conditions in overcrowded prisons. seek practical measures to address the serious populations crises that exist in many justice systems. The purpose of the 10 Keys Project is to offer practical Inside are ten keys – practical • providing long-distance or on-site ideas to assist them in doing that. measures – to improve conditions in consultation overcrowded prisons and jails. These were assembled by the Centre for Justice and Reconciliation with two criteria in CENTRE FOR JUSTICE mind: first, does it improve the quality AND RECONCILIATION of life of and prison staff, and at International second, could it be done (or at least PO Box 17434 begun) without new legislation or large Washington, DC 20041 amounts of money. www.pficjr.org/10Keys www.pficjr.org 10 Keys to Improving Conditions in Overcrowded Prisons

SECURITY HEALTH NON-SENTENCED SENTENCED PRISONERS PRISONERS Overcrowded prisons are more difficult to As toilet, sanitation, and cooking facilities manage and frequently plagued by increased become inadequate to serve a growing prison Prison overcrowding is sometimes caused by a Many persons who have been sentenced to conflict and violence. Often the movement of population, the health of staff and inmates is at slow court system and as a result the number of prison do not represent a real danger or threat prisoners is restricted as a means of controlling risk, making it more difficult to control contagious or non-sentenced prisoners increases to the community. The court has ordered them the situation. Unfortunately this adds to the diseases. substantially. Some non-sentenced prisoners may imprisoned because few other meaningful stress and hostility felt by inmates. not have appeared in court due to lack of legal alternatives for exist. Effective 3. Improve Sanitation representation and others may be eligible for bail. alternatives can be used to reduce the prison 1. Reduce Idleness Organize and train inmates in preventative population. Reduce inmate idleness by increasing health care including basic sanitation, food 7. Review Cases opportunities for exercise, sports, cultural preparation and personal hygiene. Reduce the number of non-sentenced 9. Increase Alternatives and religious activities. Active inmates are prisoners by establishing a process for Convene a meeting with judges, politicians, less likely to feel stressed and hostile. 4. Grow Food lawyers, prosecutors and judges to review community leaders, lawyers and other Involve low risk inmate labour to cultivate the legal status of individual detainees and relevant groups to discuss the use of 2. Classify Prisoners vegetable gardens, raise livestock (e.g., make appropriate recommendations to the alternative community-based Classify and house prisoners according to cattle, sheep, pigs, perhaps poultry) to court. rather than prison for non-dangerous their level of risk. Lower risk groups require provide additional and more varied food offenders. Consider holding the meeting less security and can be managed on a for the prison. This will improve nutrition 8. Speed Release at the jail or prison to expand awareness of lower security basis. and also provide inmates with meaningful Organize volunteer lawyers or paralegal existing conditions. activity. volunteers to help inmates prepare for bail hearings and thus reduce the amount of 10. Use Furloughs time they may have to wait for their cases to Unless there are legal obstacles, permit CONDITIONS be heard. trustworthy prisoners to leave during the day or weekends for employment, family Overcrowded prisons are more difficult to manage humanely and effectively. As need for living space visitation or community service activities. increases the space available for educational, recreational, cultural, and religious activities is often reduced or entirely eliminated. LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

5. Use Volunteers Prison overcrowding is an entrenched problem and solutions require careful work and strong political Increase the involvement of volunteers, community groups and NGOs to provide meaningful will. Some of the creative measures taken to address this problem have included: programmes for prisoners. Even where space is limited the involvement of volunteers contributes to • Mobile judges travel to prisons to hold court hearings. This reduces the number of remand improved morale and reduces inmate idleness. prisoners. • Judges use probation and community service as an alternative to prison. 6. Train Staff Legislators adopt sentencing reforms to reduce the length of sentences Train staff members in basic relational skills including effective communication, building respectful and • humane relationships, anger management and conflict mediation. This will improve both staff and • boards are given authority to release and supervise prisoners early who pose little inmate morale. danger to society. • Parole boards sanction technical parole violators (e.g., fail to report on time) outside prison.