Penal Reform International

Penal Reform International (commonly known as PRI) was founded in London in 1989. It is an international nongovernmental organization working on penal and criminal justice reform worldwide.

Mission

PRI’s stated goal is to promote safe and secure societies where offenders are held to account, victims’ rights are recognised, sentences are proportionate and the primary purpose of prison is social rehabilitation not retribution.

Its stated aims are to:

• reduce the use of imprisonment, in particular through the use of non-custodial alternatives;

• improve prison conditions and prevent torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment;

• develop child-friendly systems of justice which recognise the right of children to special protection and only ever use detention for children as a last resort;

• establish proportionate and gender-sensitive treatment of women offenders and prisoners;

• abolish the death penalty and introduce humane alternative sanctions.

Activities

PRI has five offices worldwide. PRI’s Head Office in London (UK) leads and coordinates its cross-regional programmes, international policy and advocacy activities. Its regional offices in the Middle East and North Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the South Caucasus implement practical programmes and provide technical assistance at a national and regional level. PRI also currently delivers programmes through partners in East Africa and South Asia.

PRI works with civil society in promoting criminal justice reforms at the level of legislation, policy and practice, and works closely with civil society partners in all regions where it has offices.

PRI has consultative status at the United Nations (ECOSOC), the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Council of Europe.

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