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class="date-display-single">01.29.2025</span>, by <div class="textformatter-list"><a href="/authors/irene-berelowitch" class="node node-2134 entityreference">Irène Berelowitch</a></div></div> <span class="read-time">Reading time: 7 minutes</span> </div>  <div class="niveau-2"> <div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-6641 asset-image"><div class="content asset-image-visuel-principal"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/visuel_principal/public/assets/images/rea5428513_72dpi.jpg?itok=2KSE9r8R" width="1200" height="575" alt="" title=" ©Patrick ALLARD/REA" /> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> A cell in the disciplinary quarters of the Rodez Prison (southwestern France) seen through a spyhole, 2015. </div> </div> </div> <div class="copyright-share-wrapper clearfix"> <div class="left"> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> Patrick ALLARD/REA </div> </div> </div> <div class="share-asset-main-wrapper clearfix right"> <a class="share-asset-link right"><i class="icon icon-pager"></i>Share</a> <div class="share-asset-wrapper right clearfix"> <div class="left">Share</div> <div class="right clearfix"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail%2F&text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail" title="Share on X" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-twitter"></i></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail&p%5Btitle%5D=Prison%20Life%20Index%20opens%20a%20window%20on%20life%20in%20jail&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/rea5428513_72dpi.jpg%3Fitok%3DNYqQ7M9t&p%5Bsummary%5D=Researchers%20have%20developed%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20first%20index%20evaluating%20prison%20conditions%2C%20attesting%20to%20the%20enforcement%20%E2%80%93%20or%20more%20often%20the%20violation%20%E2%80%93%20of%20the%20fundamental%20rights%20of%20inmates.%20The%20results%20for%20twelve%20countries%20or%20nations%2C%20including%20France%2C%20are%20available%20online." title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-facebook"></i></a> <a href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail%0Ahttps%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail" title="Share on Bluesky" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-bluesky"></i></a> <a href="/printmail/2152" title="Share by email"><i class="icon icon-mail"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div>  <div class="niveau-3 resize-chapo-contenu"> <div class="article-chapo"> Researchers have developed the world’s first index evaluating prison conditions, attesting to the enforcement – or more often the violation – of the fundamental rights of inmates. The results for twelve countries or nations, including France, are available online. </div> <div class="article-contenu"> <p><span><span>What it means to live in prison remains largely ignored by the vast majority of citizens, and even more so outside of their own country. The French NGO Prison Insider<a class="see-footnote" id="footnoteref1_tshb3so" title="https://www.prison-insider.com/en" href="#footnote1_tshb3so">1</a>, which has provided information online since 2015 on prison life throughout the world, is now offering a synthetic view of the enforcement of rights in jail. The Prison Life Index, developed with two laboratories from France’s CNAM conservatory of arts and crafts<a class="see-footnote" id="footnoteref2_4fiudli" title="Interdisciplinary Research Center in Action-Oriented Sciences (LIRSA)." href="#footnote2_4fiudli">2</a> and the CNRS<a class="see-footnote" id="footnoteref3_2lqljiu" title="LAMSADE (Laboratoire d'Analyse et Modélisation de Systèmes pour l'Aide à la Décision – CNRS / Université Paris Dauphine-PSL)." href="#footnote3_2lqljiu">3</a>, has established an assessment grid for incarceration conditions with regard to the fundamental rights guaranteed by international standards, with a view to raising awareness of their violation.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><em>“In general, the subject of detention is only brought up when an extraordinary event occurs, most often a tragic one. However, everyday prison reality remains little known,” </em>sums up Florence Laufer, the director of Prison Insider. <em>“The advantage of a specific indicator is that it can be understood by everyone. Yet we wanted neither an oversimplification nor a ranking, so we asked the LAMSADE laboratory to help us develop a rigorous scientific tool.”</em></span></span></p> <p><div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-6642 asset-image"> <div class="content asset-image-full"> <div class="image"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_full/public/assets/images/maxnewsworldthree539262_72dpi.jpg?itok=AGrAPGIJ" width="664" height="443" alt="" title=" © JOEL PHILIPPON/ PHOTOPQR/LE PROGRES/ MAXPPP" /> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> Ordinary aspects of prison life mostly remain little-known. Courtyard at the Corbas Prison for women near Lyon (southeastern France), 2014. <a href='#image-aid-6642' class='popup-link'><i class='icon-fullsize'></i></a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="image-aid-6642" class="white-popup mfp-hide wrapper-legende-lightbox"> <header> <span class="logo"><img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/all/themes/cnrs/images/logo-gris.svg" alt="CNRS News" title="CNRS News" /></span> <button class="close mfp-close icon-close"></button> </header> <div class="image-content"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/maxnewsworldthree539262_72dpi.jpg?itok=a9w3Is27" alt="" title=" © JOEL PHILIPPON/ PHOTOPQR/LE PROGRES/ MAXPPP" /> </div> <div class="image-caption"> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> Ordinary aspects of prison life mostly remain little-known. Courtyard at the Corbas Prison for women near Lyon (southeastern France), 2014. <a href='#image-aid-6642' class='popup-link'><i class='icon-fullsize'></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> JOEL PHILIPPON/ PHOTOPQR/LE PROGRES/ MAXPPP </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="copyright-share-wrapper clearfix"> <div class="left"> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> JOEL PHILIPPON/ PHOTOPQR/LE PROGRES/ MAXPPP </div> </div> </div> <div class="share-asset-main-wrapper clearfix right"> <a class="share-asset-link right"><i class="icon icon-pager"></i>Share</a> <div class="share-asset-wrapper right clearfix"> <div class="left">Share</div> <div class="right clearfix"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail%2F&text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail" title="Share on X" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-twitter"></i></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail&p%5Btitle%5D=Prison%20Life%20Index%20opens%20a%20window%20on%20life%20in%20jail&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/maxnewsworldthree539262_72dpi.jpg%3Fitok%3Da9w3Is27&p%5Bsummary%5D=Researchers%20have%20developed%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20first%20index%20evaluating%20prison%20conditions%2C%20attesting%20to%20the%20enforcement%20%E2%80%93%20or%20more%20often%20the%20violation%20%E2%80%93%20of%20the%20fundamental%20rights%20of%20inmates.%20The%20results%20for%20twelve%20countries%20or%20nations%2C%20including%20France%2C%20are%20available%20online." title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-facebook"></i></a> <a href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail%0Ahttps%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail" title="Share on Bluesky" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-bluesky"></i></a> <a href="https://news.cnrs.fr/printmail/2152" title="Share by email"><i class="icon icon-mail"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></p> <p><span><span>After four years of study, the first results of the Prison Life Index were published online<a class="see-footnote" id="footnoteref4_im3wmoz" title="https://www.prison-insider.com/en/informer/prison-life-index" href="#footnote4_im3wmoz">4</a><span>, covering</span> twelve countries or nations: South Africa, Australia, Chile, Ivory Coast, Scotland (UK), France, Georgia, Ireland, Lebanon, Norway, the Philippines, and Portugal. A multidisciplinary committee consisting of lawyers and sociologists specialising in prison life, economists, computer scientists, and representatives from Prison Insider oversaw the research. The doctoral student Lola Martin-Moro – under the aegis in particular of the computer scientist Meltem Öztürk, an academic at the LAMSADE – worked on an aggregation methodology for qualitative rather than quantitative mass data<a class="see-footnote" id="footnoteref5_ykkw86b" title="Work completed as part of a CIFRE thesis." href="#footnote5_ykkw86b">5</a> in order to establish a “composite indicator”. </span></span></p> <h2><span><span>Reliability and traceability</span></span></h2> <p> <span><span>Developing this innovative indicator required multiple stages: designing a structure able to identify the rights being assessed; establishing the necessary data to determine their compliance or violation; and finally gathering this material. The sources came from interviews with independent experts, documentary research, and information already produced by Prison Insider, such as updated “country profiles”, which describe 380 aspects of prison life. On the basis of the primary international instruments used for detention, 61 indicators were grouped into five major groups of rights: “eating, sleeping, showering”; “medical care”; “being protected”; “being active”; “being connected.” This complex mass of information thus gave rise to a simple and universally applicable index.</span></span></p> <p><div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-6645 asset-image"> <div class="content asset-image-full"> <div class="image"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_full/public/assets/images/screencartemangerds_prisonlifeindex_72dpi.png?itok=BgMUL2s7" width="663" height="487" alt="" title=" © https://www.prison-insider.com/informer/prison-life-index" /> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> The highest-ranking countries or nations with respect to “eating, sleeping, and showering” are Scotland (UK), Norway, and Ireland. By clicking on each of these terms, the Internet user can access different explanatory comments. (Screenshot of a webpage). <a href='#image-aid-6645' class='popup-link'><i class='icon-fullsize'></i></a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="image-aid-6645" class="white-popup mfp-hide wrapper-legende-lightbox"> <header> <span class="logo"><img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/all/themes/cnrs/images/logo-gris.svg" alt="CNRS News" title="CNRS News" /></span> <button class="close mfp-close icon-close"></button> </header> <div class="image-content"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/screencartemangerds_prisonlifeindex_72dpi.png?itok=DU18ots9" alt="" title=" © https://www.prison-insider.com/informer/prison-life-index" /> </div> <div class="image-caption"> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> The highest-ranking countries or nations with respect to “eating, sleeping, and showering” are Scotland (UK), Norway, and Ireland. By clicking on each of these terms, the Internet user can access different explanatory comments. (Screenshot of a webpage). <a href='#image-aid-6645' class='popup-link'><i class='icon-fullsize'></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> https://www.prison-insider.com/informer/prison-life-index </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="copyright-share-wrapper clearfix"> <div class="left"> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> https://www.prison-insider.com/informer/prison-life-index </div> </div> </div> <div class="share-asset-main-wrapper clearfix right"> <a class="share-asset-link right"><i class="icon icon-pager"></i>Share</a> <div class="share-asset-wrapper right clearfix"> <div class="left">Share</div> <div class="right clearfix"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail%2F&text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail" title="Share on X" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-twitter"></i></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail&p%5Btitle%5D=Prison%20Life%20Index%20opens%20a%20window%20on%20life%20in%20jail&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/screencartemangerds_prisonlifeindex_72dpi.png%3Fitok%3DDU18ots9&p%5Bsummary%5D=Researchers%20have%20developed%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20first%20index%20evaluating%20prison%20conditions%2C%20attesting%20to%20the%20enforcement%20%E2%80%93%20or%20more%20often%20the%20violation%20%E2%80%93%20of%20the%20fundamental%20rights%20of%20inmates.%20The%20results%20for%20twelve%20countries%20or%20nations%2C%20including%20France%2C%20are%20available%20online." title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-facebook"></i></a> <a href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail%0Ahttps%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail" title="Share on Bluesky" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-bluesky"></i></a> <a href="https://news.cnrs.fr/printmail/2152" title="Share by email"><i class="icon icon-mail"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></p> <p><span><span>A qualitative evaluation is provided for each indicator: between A (meaning that international standards are complied with) and E (that they are systematically violated), six additional levels are proposed, with B, C, and D respectively corresponding to occasional, frequent, or regular violations. The “minus” sign following these three letters refers to the severity of the violations.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>This legibility, Öztürk emphasizes, required <em>“a tremendous amount of work”</em>. Beyond needs in linguistic translation, the researchers had to develop their own data based on the principles of “multi-criteria decision analysis”, which guided the laboratory’s research, and helped create a robust index <em>“that cannot be accused of distorting reality, unlike most so-called indicators that steer decision-making”</em> .</span></span></p> <p><span><span><em>“We also favour the use of explainable methods that ensure the reliability and traceability of our results, a token of Prison Life Index’s credibility,” </em>concludes Öztürk, who also points out that the qualitative evaluation does include some subjectivity. In addition, the calculation is <em>“non-compensatory”</em>: respecting one right does not offset the violation of another. <em>“Each of the 61 indicators corresponds to a fundamental right,”</em> indicates Laufer, <em>“however all standards must be applied.”</em> As to the choice of countries or nations studied, it is partially due to a pragmatic factor: private and public funding, especially that provided by the Council of Europe.</span></span></p> <h2><span><span>Varying degrees of severity</span></span></h2> <p> <span><span>What overall view do these initial results provide? As expected, none of the twelve countries evaluated fully enforces international standards. Violations have been observed in each category, with varying frequency and severity. For a single right, such as that to call loved ones, multiple reasons can explain its non-observance: restrictions, absence, faulty telephones or booths, excessive monitoring, and censorship. The comments featuring on the site offer explanations for each situation. </span></span></p> <p><div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-6644 asset-image"> <div class="content asset-image-full"> <div class="image"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_full/public/assets/images/screenfranceetreenlien_72dpi.png?itok=v0idGFVG" width="664" height="486" alt="" title=" ©https://www.prison-insider.com/informer/prison-life-index" /> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> In France, the shunting of prisons outside of cities makes visits difficult. The fact that few prisons exist for women makes it even more difficult for them to maintain ties with the outside. (Screenshot of a webpage). <a href='#image-aid-6644' class='popup-link'><i class='icon-fullsize'></i></a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="image-aid-6644" class="white-popup mfp-hide wrapper-legende-lightbox"> <header> <span class="logo"><img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/all/themes/cnrs/images/logo-gris.svg" alt="CNRS News" title="CNRS News" /></span> <button class="close mfp-close icon-close"></button> </header> <div class="image-content"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/screenfranceetreenlien_72dpi.png?itok=Kv2csImf" alt="" title=" ©https://www.prison-insider.com/informer/prison-life-index" /> </div> <div class="image-caption"> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> In France, the shunting of prisons outside of cities makes visits difficult. The fact that few prisons exist for women makes it even more difficult for them to maintain ties with the outside. (Screenshot of a webpage). <a href='#image-aid-6644' class='popup-link'><i class='icon-fullsize'></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> https://www.prison-insider.com/informer/prison-life-index </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="copyright-share-wrapper clearfix"> <div class="left"> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> https://www.prison-insider.com/informer/prison-life-index </div> </div> </div> <div class="share-asset-main-wrapper clearfix right"> <a class="share-asset-link right"><i class="icon icon-pager"></i>Share</a> <div class="share-asset-wrapper right clearfix"> <div class="left">Share</div> <div class="right clearfix"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail%2F&text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail" title="Share on X" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-twitter"></i></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail&p%5Btitle%5D=Prison%20Life%20Index%20opens%20a%20window%20on%20life%20in%20jail&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/screenfranceetreenlien_72dpi.png%3Fitok%3DKv2csImf&p%5Bsummary%5D=Researchers%20have%20developed%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20first%20index%20evaluating%20prison%20conditions%2C%20attesting%20to%20the%20enforcement%20%E2%80%93%20or%20more%20often%20the%20violation%20%E2%80%93%20of%20the%20fundamental%20rights%20of%20inmates.%20The%20results%20for%20twelve%20countries%20or%20nations%2C%20including%20France%2C%20are%20available%20online." title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-facebook"></i></a> <a href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail%0Ahttps%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail" title="Share on Bluesky" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-bluesky"></i></a> <a href="https://news.cnrs.fr/printmail/2152" title="Share by email"><i class="icon icon-mail"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></p> <p><span><span>For example, for the right to receive visits from close relatives, Australia comes in lowest among the countries assessed, with regular violations (D). In France, this right is also subject to frequent and severe breaches (C-). Distance affects women in particular, as few prisons or quarters are reserved for female detainees. In another example, regarding the disciplinary system – which must be governed by public regulations and whose measures must be applied proportionally – evaluations are generally very concerning, with six countries between D and D- (Chile, Lebanon, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Australia, and the Philippines). </span></span></p> <p><span><span>In France as well, experts have reported excessive use of isolation as a disciplinary measure. This is also true in Norway, where individuals with mental disorders can be kept in isolation, including between two stays in psychiatric hospitals. It is therefore possible to compare results relating to specific criteria in different countries, but also to see how penitentiary systems with highly unequal resources manage the same rights.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>For instance, looking at France and the Ivory Coast, As – i.e. compliance with the law – are the exception in both cases. In France, while poor living conditions are well-known, “frequent and regular violations”, sometimes severe, have been highlighted for numerous fundamental rights, whether it be protection of the physical and psychological integrity of detainees, their access to medical care, to work, training, and visits, among others. Prisoners in the Ivory Coast suffer from even worse conditions (indicated by a large number of Es), and as Laufer stresses, these qualitative evaluations take the country’s general living conditions into account.</span></span></p> <p><em><span><span>“In France, violations of the right to be properly fed correspond to meals of poor quality, sometimes served cold, and in insufficient amounts; in the Ivory Coast, detainees commonly suffer from malnutrition. In comparison, sleeping on a mat on the ground may seem acceptable, whereas in France mattresses on the floor in cells are a sign of poor housing quality. Even though human rights are universal and fundamentally have the same value everywhere, differences in the standard and norms of living are taken into account.”</span></span></em></p> <p><div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-6643 asset-image"> <div class="content asset-image-full"> <div class="image"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/asset_image_full/public/assets/images/rea634973_72dpi.jpg?itok=-XRxcCdo" width="664" height="438" alt="" title=" ©C.BOISSEAUX/LA VIE-REA" /> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> In the largest prison in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), prisoners sit in rows in the courtyard for lunch, 2001. <a href='#image-aid-6643' class='popup-link'><i class='icon-fullsize'></i></a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="image-aid-6643" class="white-popup mfp-hide wrapper-legende-lightbox"> <header> <span class="logo"><img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/all/themes/cnrs/images/logo-gris.svg" alt="CNRS News" title="CNRS News" /></span> <button class="close mfp-close icon-close"></button> </header> <div class="image-content"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/rea634973_72dpi.jpg?itok=CIPCtVa2" alt="" title=" ©C.BOISSEAUX/LA VIE-REA" /> </div> <div class="image-caption"> <div class="wrapper-legende"> <div class="image-legende"> In the largest prison in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), prisoners sit in rows in the courtyard for lunch, 2001. <a href='#image-aid-6643' class='popup-link'><i class='icon-fullsize'></i></a> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> C.BOISSEAUX/LA VIE-REA </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="copyright-share-wrapper clearfix"> <div class="left"> <div class="wrapper-copyright"> <div class="image-copyright"> C.BOISSEAUX/LA VIE-REA </div> </div> </div> <div class="share-asset-main-wrapper clearfix right"> <a class="share-asset-link right"><i class="icon icon-pager"></i>Share</a> <div class="share-asset-wrapper right clearfix"> <div class="left">Share</div> <div class="right clearfix"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail%2F&text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail" title="Share on X" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-twitter"></i></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?s=100&p%5Burl%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail&p%5Btitle%5D=Prison%20Life%20Index%20opens%20a%20window%20on%20life%20in%20jail&p%5Bimages%5D%5B0%5D=https%3A//news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/lightbox-hd/public/assets/images/rea634973_72dpi.jpg%3Fitok%3DCIPCtVa2&p%5Bsummary%5D=Researchers%20have%20developed%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20first%20index%20evaluating%20prison%20conditions%2C%20attesting%20to%20the%20enforcement%20%E2%80%93%20or%20more%20often%20the%20violation%20%E2%80%93%20of%20the%20fundamental%20rights%20of%20inmates.%20The%20results%20for%20twelve%20countries%20or%20nations%2C%20including%20France%2C%20are%20available%20online." title="Share on Facebook" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-facebook"></i></a> <a href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Prison Life Index opens a window on life in jail%0Ahttps%3A//news.cnrs.fr/articles/prison-life-index-opens-a-window-on-life-in-jail" title="Share on Bluesky" target="_blank"><i class="icon icon-bluesky"></i></a> <a href="https://news.cnrs.fr/printmail/2152" title="Share by email"><i class="icon icon-mail"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></p> <p><span><span>Is it fair to apply the same analytical index to rich and poor countries? The director of Prison Insider believes it is, for <em>“these international standards, including the Nelson Mandela and Bangkok Rules, were adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations. They are not binding, but represent a political consensus in defining the fundamental rights of detained persons”.</em></span></span></p> <p><span><span>Attempting to summarise these studies in a few lines can sometimes prove deceptive, as their interest resides in their simultaneously exhaustive and detailed nature. Each “score” is accompanied by elements of context and links to documentation. <em>“In the world apart that are prisons, out of sight, where counterweights are weak, we would expect that in general standards are violated more often than they are enforced. However, these new indicators provide a precise and nuanced image of reality, and point to possible improvements, including for use by professionals,” </em>Laufer adds. <em>“The Prison Life Index also shows, and this is hardly a surprise either, that humanity and dignity are not always a question of financial resources.” </em>She also points out that while detention involves only a small number of individuals, it represents a challenge for all citizens, since the poor treatment suffered inside sooner or later impacts the outside. If it increases the general public’s awareness of prison conditions, the Prison Life Index will have fulfilled its goal. Prison Insider hopes to assess an extra thirty countries in the coming years. <span lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB">♦</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span>Consult the <a href="https://www.prison-insider.com/en/informer/prison-life-index" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB">Prison Life Index</span></a></span></span><br /> </p> <div class="footnotes-wrapper">Footnotes<br /> <ul class="footnotes"> <li class="footnote" id="footnote1_tshb3so"><a class="footnote-label" href="#footnoteref1_tshb3so">1.</a> <a href="https://www.prison-insider.com/en">https://www.prison-insider.com/en</a></li> <li class="footnote" id="footnote2_4fiudli"><a class="footnote-label" href="#footnoteref2_4fiudli">2.</a> Interdisciplinary Research Center in Action-Oriented Sciences (LIRSA).</li> <li class="footnote" id="footnote3_2lqljiu"><a class="footnote-label" href="#footnoteref3_2lqljiu">3.</a> LAMSADE (Laboratoire d'Analyse et Modélisation de Systèmes pour l'Aide à la Décision – CNRS / Université Paris Dauphine-PSL).</li> <li class="footnote" id="footnote4_im3wmoz"><a class="footnote-label" href="#footnoteref4_im3wmoz">4.</a> <a href="https://www.prison-insider.com/en/informer/prison-life-index">https://www.prison-insider.com/en/informer/prison-life-index</a></li> <li class="footnote" id="footnote5_ykkw86b"><a class="footnote-label" href="#footnoteref5_ykkw86b">5.</a> Work completed as part of a CIFRE thesis.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>  <div id="aller-box">   <div class="niveau-voir-aussi"> <div class="article-aussi"> <h3>Explore more</h3> <div class="wrapper-voir-aussi clearfix"> <div class="voir-aussi-term">Society</div><div class="view view-voir-aussi view-id-voir_aussi view-display-id-block_voir_aussi view-dom-id-0837f5e993212820a6324b23c5c4ef1d"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-visuel-principal"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/articles/how-jurassic-park-changed-the-image-of-dinosaurs" title="Society"><div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-6659 asset-image"> <div class="content"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/voir-aussi/public/assets/images/christophel_photo_nz_bf_chlnzj_001496_cut_vp.jpg?itok=Keo8xiEU" width="100" height="100" alt="Collection ChristopheL © Universal Pictures - Amblin Entertainment" title=" ©Universal Pictures - Amblin Entertainment / Collection ChristopheL" /></div> </div> </a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-nothing"> <div class="field-content"><div class="wrapper-hidden"> <div class="wrapper-top clearfix"> <div class="article types left"><div class="article">Article</div></div> <div class="date-parution right"><span class="date-display-single">01/22/2025</span></div> </div> <div class="titre"><a href="/articles/how-jurassic-park-changed-the-image-of-dinosaurs">How Jurassic Park changed the image of dinosaurs</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-visuel-principal"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/articles/protecting-democratic-debate-against-hatred-and-lies" title="Society"><div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-6663 asset-image"> <div class="content"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/voir-aussi/public/assets/images/rtr4kxvb_vp.jpg?itok=FmihSVDT" width="100" height="100" alt="République 11 janvier 2015 à Paris © Stéphane Mahé / Reuters" title=" ©Stéphane Mahé / Reuters" /></div> </div> </a></div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-nothing"> <div class="field-content"><div class="wrapper-hidden"> <div class="wrapper-top clearfix"> <div class="article types left"><div class="article">Article</div></div> <div class="date-parution right"><span class="date-display-single">01/21/2025</span></div> </div> <div class="titre"><a href="/articles/protecting-democratic-debate-against-hatred-and-lies">"Protecting democratic debate against hatred and lies"</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-visuel-principal"> <div class="field-content"><a href="/articles/telescopes-face-down-to-earth-challenges" title="Society"><div class="asset-wrapper asset aid-6646 asset-image"> <div class="content"> <img src="https://news.cnrs.fr/sites/default/files/styles/voir-aussi/public/assets/images/maunakea_observatories_panorama_6v7a4816-panorama-cc.jpg?itok=Tlih3UeZ" width="100" height="100" alt="" title=" © NOIRLab/AURA/NSF/ T. 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