About the Centre for

Justice and Reconciliation

10 KEYS TO Improving Conditions in
The Centre is the justice reform arm of Prison IMPROVING Overcrowded Prisons
Fellowship International, an association of
Christian NGOs active in over 100 countries.
The Centre assists governments, its affiliates,
CONDITIONS IN Prison overcrowding is a major
contributor to problems including
Actually solving prison and jail
overcrowding requires a firm
and other NGOs in addressing problems in the
criminal justice system. OVERCROWDED • reduced staff morale commitment from the government
and cooperation within the justice
• security and control difficulties
system. The Centre stands ready to assist
The Centre promotes restorative justice policies
and practices as a promising approach with
PRISONS • increased health and wellbeing governments and justice officials who
benefits for victims, communities and offenders.
problems for staff and inmates 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 justice can help reduce prison
Criminal justice practitioners around the world
conditions in overcrowded prisons. populations
seek practical measures to address the serious
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 prisoners and prison staff, and
at Prison Fellowship 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 remand 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 punishment 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 punishments
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
Train staff members in basic relational skills including effective communication, building respectful and
• Legislators adopt sentencing reforms to reduce the length of sentences
humane relationships, anger management and conflict mediation. This will improve both staff and • Parole 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.