Societies grappling with a ‘silent but growing’ prison crisis | UN News (news.un.org)
from otters_raft@lemmy.ca to world@lemmy.world on 18 Jun 2025 21:00
https://lemmy.ca/post/46374109

Prisons have become a fragile link in many criminal justice systems, weakened by over-incarceration, overcrowding, poor conditions and chronic neglect – fuelling calls for urgent reform.

A decade ago, the UN General Assembly adopted the Nelson Mandela Rules — a set of 122 guidelines setting minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners, inspired by one of the world’s most influential former political prisoners – the South African civil rights icon, Nelson Mandela.

These rules aim to ensure safety, security and respect for human dignity, offering clear benchmarks for prison staff.

Despite this, prison systems worldwide continue to face deep-rooted challenges. The General Assembly convened on Friday to discuss how to better protect societies from crime by focusing on rehabilitation and preparing inmates for life after prison.

#world

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SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 18 Jun 2025 21:15 next collapse

Mandela Effect: He died in prison, therefore no reforms are needed. /s

pelespirit@sh.itjust.works on 18 Jun 2025 21:23 next collapse

For-profit prisons don’t want you to prepare for life after prison, you’re their money maker.

SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 18 Jun 2025 21:30 next collapse

Return of the chain gang busting limestone.

pelespirit@sh.itjust.works on 18 Jun 2025 21:41 collapse

And making shit for corporations:

Because the business model of prison labor requires a constant influx of prisoners, private prisons have included “lockup quotas” into their dealings with federal and state authorities. The premise of the lockup quota is that taxpayers either have to keep these facilities at least 90% capacity or pay for the empty prison beds.

In order to continue bringing in profits, private prisons have found new sources for forced labor. In California, immigrants who were held in detention facilities owned by GEO Group are suing GEO Group for forced labor and wage theft. One of the class-action lawsuits alleges that detainees at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center were paid $1 a day for their labor, two others allege that GEO Group violated federal and California forced labor laws, while the fourth hopes to stop forced labor at 12 of GEO’s immigration facilities. Some immigrants worked for $1 a day while others worked for extra food, and under GEO’s Housing Unit Sanitation Policies, detained immigrants must work or face sanctions like solitary confinement or interference with their immigration cases.

…berkeley.edu/profiting-off-of-prison-labor/

10 Everyday Products Surprisingly Made by Inmates

  • Victoria’s Secret Lingerie
  • Canoes
  • Military Jackets
  • Baseball Hats (doesn’t say what companies)
  • Prison Blues’ jeans
  • McDonald’s Uniforms
  • Dentures
  • PRIDE furniture, storage boxes, apparel, food, license plates, and more in Florida
  • Bowls to rocking chairs, will be sold at the Angola Prison Rodeo
  • Caskets (doesn’t say who sells them)
  • Art, ranging from paintings to poetry, and sell them through an online store

listverse.com/…/10-everyday-products-surprisingly…

EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com on 19 Jun 2025 07:43 collapse

Crime isn’t supposed to pay. But apparently someone is profiting from it.

Truly depraved.

brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 18 Jun 2025 21:57 next collapse

I’d like to think I’m soft on crime. I believe it’s a good thing. But fewer crimes should result in prison sentences. And the prison sentences that occur should be shorter.

EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com on 19 Jun 2025 07:47 collapse

I’m of the opinion that we (U.S. perspective) tend to overpunish fairly minor shit while simultaneously underpunishing more serious (e.g. violent) crimes.

I agree that, generally speaking, prison sentences should be shorter. Most crimes of the more minor variety.

flamingo_pinyata@sopuli.xyz on 18 Jun 2025 22:31 next collapse

Almost like prison is not a good way to deal with most crime.

By default property crimes should be dealt with by full confiscation of stolen property and 6 months of community service (or prison if the convicted so chooses). Each time they do it. With full effort of police to resolve every single case and express trials. No sentencing to harsh penalties as a deterrence, just a 99% chance you’ll be caught.

Isolated cases of violence, like a bar fight etc. Some counseling and community service again.

Consistently violent people are a different story. Say murders or multiple assaults. They should be kept locked indefinitely with annual review, until they pass some test to determine they are unlikely to be violent again.

Mohamed@lemmy.ca on 19 Jun 2025 00:44 next collapse

I think prisons have to be reformed in almost every country, including my own (Canada). Prison should fill one or both of these roles:

  1. Isolate criminals from society,
  2. Limit freedom as a deterrent for crime. Generally agree that imprisoned people should have the opportunity to rehabilitate.

My point that i want to make is that the punishment should not exceed simply limiting freedom. Prison should protect prisoners from violence. Prison should allow prisoners to live fulfilling lives while there in prison. Prison rape should not be a fact of life in prison. Prison should not dehumanise prisoners. Prison should guard all rights of prisoners (apart from freedom of movement). Prisoners can’t be forced to do work or even follow a routine. Etc.

Unfortanutely, it seems things are so fucked up that not many have time to seriously fight for prisoner’s rights (including me).

Crankenstein@lemmy.world on 19 Jun 2025 07:52 collapse

The prison and police institution it is part of needs to be abolished.

We need a system of Rehabilitative justice. Not Punitive.