United Nations Handbook on Prisoners with Special Needs

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has issued a new publication in its ongoing Criminal Justice Handbook series.

The Handbook on Prisoners with Special Needs covers the special needs of prisoners in eight groups:

"The present handbook forms part of a series of tools developed by The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to support countries in implementing the rule of law and the development of criminal justice reform. It is designed to be used by all actors involved in the criminal justice system, including policymakers, legislators, prison managers, prison staff, members of non-governmental organizations and other individuals interested or active in the field of criminal justice and prison reform. It can be used in a variety of contexts, both as a reference document and as a training tool."

"This handbook covers the special needs of eight groups of prisoners, which have a
particularly vulnerable status in prisons. They are: Prisoners with mental health care needs; Prisoners with disabilities; Ethnic and racial minorities and indigenous peoples; Foreign national prisoners; Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) prisoners; Older prisoners; Prisoners with terminal illness and Prisoners under sentence of death."

Each chapter provides an overview of the situation of a specific group in the criminal justice system worldwide, an overview of their special needs and challenges encountered in responding
to them, extracts from relevant international standards, commentary on legislative measures and the implementation of alternatives to prison, and prison management guidelines.

[Source: UN Pulse]