Prisons: The Rule of Law, Accountability and Rights (PRILA) is a project, funded by the European Research Council, which explores prison oversight. It pays particular attention to prison inspection and monitoring, complaints systems, and access to the courts. PRILA examines the legal frameworks for prison oversight, the structures for oversight which exist in Europe, and the lived experiences of people in prison, prison staff, and staff of oversight bodies of such work.

PRILA hosted a one-day virtual conference, on Thursday 26 November 2020 - 12:30pm - 5:30pm (Irish Standard Time) which brought together scholars, practitioners, people with lived experience, NGOs, policymakers, and oversight bodies to explore key issues in prison oversight. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative work conducted across Europe, the conference provided an opportunity to discuss PRILA’s research findings on matters including:

1. How people in prison experience prison oversight

2. How prison staff experience in prison oversight

3. The types of structures for prison inspection and monitoring in the EU + UK, their activities, and powers

4. How a visit from the CPT is experienced by a prison.

Confirmed speakers for the event were:

Professor Sonja Snacken - more info here

Professor Valerie Jenness - more info here

Dr. Jamie Bennett - more info here

Professor Nicola Padfield - more info here

Dr. Ian Cameron - more info here

Patricia Gilheaney - Inspector of Prisons - more info here

Professor Tom Daems - more info here

Webinar Recordings