PRILA Experiencing Prison Oversight: Interviews with NPMs and oversight bodies

The 'Prisons: the rule of law, accountability, and rights' (PRILA) project has successfully concluded, creating the first account of how mechanisms for securing rights, ensuring accountability, and achieving adherence to the rule of law were experienced in European prisons.

Funded by a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grant, the project addressed a fundamental challenge within the justice system: prisons are institutions often removed from public view. Due to this distance, the protection of human rights and the rule of law can be placed at risk, creating a pressing need for robust oversight of prison operations.

The project examined the experiences of those living and working within these systems, investigating how the structures designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and human rights compliance were perceived on the ground. Specifically, the research facilitated a comprehensive understanding of:

• Prisoner Experience: How prisoners experienced complaints procedures, inspection and monitoring, and the process of taking legal action.

• Staff Perspectives: How prison managers and prison officers/guards experienced complaints, monitoring processes, and external scrutiny.

• Oversight Bodies: How staff of accountability bodies, such as Ombudsmen and inspectorates, experienced their work and the challenges associated with it.

By analysing these distinct but interconnected viewpoints, PRILA has provided vital insights into the reality of the rule of law behind prison walls.