American Jail Association’s Post

Today marks three years since the coup in Myanmar took place on 1 February 2021. Reported arrests of political prisoners in the country have been widespread for the last three years. Nearly 26,000 people have been arrested and just under 20,000 are estimated to still be in detention, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. CIR’s #MyanmarWitness used OSINT to map the country’s prison complex, documenting over 100 prisons & labour camps. The latest report, covered by media outlets locally and abroad, reveals its expansion over the years: ⚫ 25 prison sites saw expansion since the coup  ⚫ two new prisons have been built since the coup ⚫ two more prisons are scheduled to open soon ⚫ 68% of the prisons saw development or maintenance, such as new roofs, gatehouse upgrades, added watchtowers ⚫ Labour camps saw less signs of expansion, but satellite imagery of the quarries and farmland show signs of continuous activity – indicating that these work sites are still active Read more to understand the scale of growth in the regime’s repressive prison complex: https://lnkd.in/eVXrSr44

Equipping violent extremist prisoners and prisoners at risk of radicalisation with practical skills and qualifications that enhance their employment prospects after release and providing them with multi-agency support upon release is crucial for their effective rehabilitation and reintegration. That, in turn, helps them to stay away from crime. This was the key message delivered by some 50 professionals from the Western Balkans #VEP #prisoners #rehabilitation #reintegration #wbregion #HF #CPDL

During a recent Q&A session focused on my book, ‘The Road to London Bridge,’ I had the privilege of delving into the pressing issue of prison radicalisation. My sincere thanks to Charlotte Littlewood for her insightful questions, to all those who attended, and to Sachin N. and The International Centre for Sustainability for hosting the event.   Extremism of any kind poses a severe threat to both the safety and cohesion of our society. A particularly alarming issue in our prisons today is the merger of Islamist extremism with gang culture, leading to coerced or strategic conversions to Islam. This toxic combination has become a dominant force in the higher security categories of our prison system, facilitating the risk of radicalisation of vulnerable prisoners by Islamist extremists and possibly even paving the way for the emergence of counter threats like right-wing extremism.   While converting to a faith can indeed have positive and transformative effects, its combination with gang mentality and ideological influences often results in profoundly negative outcomes for public safety:   a) The risk of radicalisation or extremism within prisons, which can extend beyond prison walls, posing a broader threat to society, prison staff, and fellow inmates.   b) An atmosphere of intimidation and violence that severely hinders rehabilitation efforts. Under constant threat, prisoners find it difficult to focus on rehabilitation, education, or future reintegration, as survival becomes their primary concern.   The secluded nature of prisons keeps them out of the public eye, diminishing the pressure on governments to address these deeply entrenched issues. However, as I have witnessed first-hand during my years in prison and at the tragic events at Fishmongers’ Hall — a terrorist attack committed by a former Category A prisoner — the reality and impact of these issues are undeniable.   Prisons should be centres of rehabilitation, not radicalisation. Fortunately, there are solutions, as well as some great professionals in the field working towards understanding and tackling this issue, but the question remains: do we have the leadership, the courage and resources to implement them effectively? #prisonreform #prisonsecurity #publicsafety #extremism #radicalisation #deradicalisation

Operation Early Dawn: A New Beginning for Prisoners in August 2024 👮♂️ It is clear that something needs to be done to address the issue of prison space. In August 2024, Operation Early Dawn emerged as an emergency government plan after the riots and England’s struggle against terrorism has caused the overcrowding situation in prisons to worsen. The question is whether this will be enough? Or indeed, whether this is the solution. Read the blog below and let us know your thoughts! https://lnkd.in/ewgXGKJD #OperationEarlyDawn #PrisonUK

Women are consistently failed by a system that is ill-equipped to support them, when they often shouldn't be in prison at all.    It is not a "place of safety" or a place for unwell or traumatised women. Investment in support services in the community can ensure women are not swept into the criminal justice system and can get the help they need.    Read this new report from the National Preventative Mechanism, which highlights systemic issues in UK prisons: https://bit.ly/3HYQ0Cp #WomenInPrison #CriminalJusticeSystem #UKPrison

Category A Prisons: Why Are They Needed? Did you know there are 4 different categories of prison within the UK's #judicial system? We explore what category A #prisons are & why they're required. https://lnkd.in/eqwuJx6S #justice #law #policing #crime #incarceration #penitentiary 

Today is International Women's Day…let's not forget our Girls. 🫶🏽 According to the Prison Policy Initiative 2024 report: "Mass incarceration targets girls, too Nearly 7,000 young women and girls are caught up in various systems of confinement, very often for minor and even non-criminal offenses. " ::. For those of us that look to and seek out data, and insights to present, solve, and influence JEDI, this article and report is a must study. It is well presented and a poignant reminder of the imperative work that is still needed. I am committed to ending mass incarceration as an advocate for justice, access and equity to reduce recidivism rates. This is about doing the work; be it the hard work, or the soft work! #JEDI #DEIB #DEIA #DEI #EDI #IED #HumanCentered #HumanCenteredDesign #HumanCenteredLeadership #InspireInclusion #DataForChange #DataForGood

José Raúl is Panama’s next president. His landslice victory came following promises to revive the country’s economy and invest in multiple ambitious infrastructure projects. Other major challenges ahead of the president-elect will be limiting the influence of Panama’s drug trafficking gangs, which have risen in sophistication in recent years. Their rise has been aided in part by poor conditions and overcrowding of the country’s penitentiaries. Panama’s incarceration rate is triple that of both Paraguay and Ecuador, two other countries facing down the threats of serious violence from organized crime. Will Mulino be able to address the prisons problem? Read more: https://bit.ly/3y5AHq2

Ecuador's military, police detain some 330 gang members, eliminate five others Vela Eraso noted that no hostages were killed in the prisons where the riots took place Ecuador's military and police have arrested 329 members of criminal gangs and eliminated five others after armed unrest began in the country, Jaime Vela Eraso, head of the armed forces’ Joint Command, said. "We confiscated 61 weapons of different calibers, 418 rounds of ammunition, 24 explosive devices, we arrested 329 terrorists. Forty-one people were rescued from captivity. We have eliminated five terrorists," he said at the conference broadcast by the Ecuavisa TV channel. The military official pointed out that after clashes with three armed criminal gangs, security forces returned 28 escaped prisoners to jails. Vela Eraso added that no hostages were killed in the prisons where the riots took place. At least 139 people are being held hostage by armed gangs in Ecuador's prisons, according to official figures. On January 9, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signed a decree recognizing the country's "internal armed conflict" and ordered the neutralization of 22 criminal gangs. The announcement followed the hostage-taking of TC Television employees who were broadcasting live from a studio in Guayaquil. Police arrested 13 people and all hostages were released. The security situation in Ecuador escalated on January 7 after the leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, nicknamed Fito, escaped from prison. This was followed by riots in several prisons. On January 8, Noboa declared a state of emergency in the country and imposed a curfew. #business #finance #financialservices

I am honored to be an invited keynote speaker at the World Police Summit, presenting on 'Forensic Medicine Towards Virtual Autopsy'. I will discuss the valuable contributions of Forensic Odontology in Crime Investigation. One valuable contribution of #ForensicOdontology in crime investigation is the emerging field of virtual dental autopsy (#Virdentopsy). Through advanced imaging technologies, such as intraoral scanning, smart glasses and 3D modeling, forensic odontologists can virtually examine dental structures and contribute to the identification of human remains and other dental-related clues. Virdentopsy provides a non-invasive and highly detailed approach to analyzing dental evidence, complementing traditional methods and enhancing the overall investigative process.