Human Rights and Dignity Behind Bars

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Public Health
• Human Rights Law

Background:

• Death and dying in prisons is an increasing global issue.
• International comparisons of carceral systems reveal diverse approaches to end-of-life care.
• There is a need to identify universal basic needs and practices for care in correctional settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reflect on current debates surrounding death and dying in prisons.
• To outline recommendations for improving dialogue and practices in correctional end-of-life care.
• To identify common ground for advancing legislation and practice based on fundamental human rights.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of national carceral systems.
• Synthesis of contributions from a special issue on prison death and dying.
• Identification of best practices and areas for further dialogue.

Main Results:

• Cross-national dialogue offers insights into different approaches to end-of-life care in prisons.
• Comparison facilitates the identification of universally applicable needs and practices.
• Several areas require further effort to deepen the dialogue on prison hospice care.

Conclusions:

• Advancing legislation and practice requires a foundation of universally recognized human rights.
• International collaboration is crucial for improving end-of-life care within carceral systems.
• Establishing minimal rights ensures a common ground for all incarcerated individuals facing end-of-life issues.