This page contains links to Covid-19 in prisons news from various sources and is updated daily. Use the filters to view articles from different regions/topics or use the search box to look for articles based on key words. Please note that these articles are from external sources and may not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ICPA.
What’s happening in your region? To share news updates please email Catalin Ungureanu catalinungureanu@icpa.org
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Coronavirus: Ex-offenders’ internships hit by pandemic
August 3, 2020
A charity which helps rehabilitate ex-offenders and prepares them to get jobs says it has lost two-thirds of its work placements since lockdown.
Nearly 1,000 prisoners raise Covid risk after being released during pandemic without a home to go to
July 31, 2020
The release of nearly 1,000 prisoners into homelessness during the Covid pandemic has raised concerns over community infection risk
Keeping COVID-19 out of prisons came at ‘significant cost’ to prisoners’ mental health and wellbeing
July 30, 2020
Successful efforts to keep COVID-19 out of Irish prisons came at a “significant cost to the mental health and wellbeing of the people subject to special measures”, a new report has found.
Families can now visit Forest Bank prisoners for first time in four months – despite it remaining ‘high risk’
July 28, 2020
Forest Bank prison in Salford has announced plans to restart socially distanced family visits.
Coronavirus: un détenu a été testé positif dans une prison du canton de Zoug
July 28, 2020
Un détenu a été testé positif au Coronavirus la semaine dernière dans la prison Bostadel à Menzingen (ZG). Depuis, la liberté de mouvement des autres détenus a été restreinte.
Scots prison visits to start up again next week four months after being banned over coronavirus fears
July 24, 2020
PRISON visits will resume at jails across Scotland from next week — almost four months after they were banned to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Coronavirus: Children denied contact with parents in prison
July 23, 2020
Despite lockdown easing across the UK, thousands of children have still not seen their parents for four months.
British Prisoners And Their Families—The Forgotten Victims Of COVID-19
July 23, 2020
In the frenzied first days of Britain’s coronavirus outbreak, as contagion fears reached fever pitch and public life retreated behind closed doors, the nation’s lockups locked-down.
High praise for prison staff and inmates for Covid-19 fight delivered at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise
July 21, 2020
Hard work, dedication and attention to detail of prison staff in Portlaoise and other jails has been praised by the Minister Justice and Equality on a trip to the Laois town.
Visits back on for children in custody
July 20, 2020
Children in custody are the latest to have their social visits restored as the coronavirus lockdown is eased across UK prisons. By the start of August, the five Young Offender Institutions holding 15- to 18-year-olds in England and Wales will all be reopened for families to visit.
Virtual visits to prisoners in NI set to continue after pandemic
July 20, 2020
Virtual visits to prisoners in Northern Ireland are set to continue after the pandemic.
Tiny fraction of prison staff in Ireland caught Covid-19 but prisoners escaped infection
July 19, 2020
Less than 2% out of the 3,500 people who work at jails in Portlaoise and elsewhere around the country caught Covid-19, the Leinster Express has learned.
Coronavirus: More than 140 released prisoners housed in hotels during lockdown
July 18, 2020
More than 140 prisoners have been housed in hotels and B&Bs after being released during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Inmates prefer lockdown restrictions, say prison officers
July 16, 2020
Prison officers’ leaders want Covid-19 curbs on mixing between inmates to be made permanent after adult and teenage prisoners told them they feel safer and no longer under pressure to act tough.
16 years old and stuck in solitary confinement 23 hours a day because of coronavirus
July 14, 2020
John spent his 16th birthday the same way he’s spent every day during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown — alone in a cell for 23 hours, with no visits, no internet and few phone calls.
Visitors to Portlaoise and other prisons warned they face ejection over new Covid-19 visiting rules
July 14, 2020
Visitors to prisons in Portlaoise and other places in Ireland will have to bring their umbrellas and may be ejected if they do not follow mask-wearing Covid-19 rules under new restrictions to visits which come into force next week as prison visits recommence.
Irish Prison Service To Allow Physical Visits Again From Next Week
July 13, 2020
Prisoners at the Midlands and Portlaoise Prisons will be able to have visitors again from next week.
Prison population starts rising again
July 13, 2020
The prison population has started to rise again after it dropped sharply during the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19: CPT issues follow-up statement
July 9, 2020
Further to its Statement of principles made on 20 March 2020 in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and in the light of responses received from member States concerning measures taken with regard to persons deprived of their liberty, the CPT issues the following statement:
Are “squalid” prison conditions and the response to the Covid-19 pandemic breaching human rights?
July 7, 2020
The latest reports of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights lay bare the conditions in some British prisons.
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