United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners

(the Nelson Mandela Rules)

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The Mandela Rules are not intended to describe in detail a model system of penal institutions. They seek only, on the basis of the general consensus of contemporary thought and the essential elements of the most adequate systems of today, to set out what is generally accepted as being good principles and practice in the treatment of prisoners and prison management.

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Read the full Mandela Rules here 

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The Bangkok Rules

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The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders ('the Bangkok Rules') were adopted by the UNGeneral Assembly in December 2010 and fill a long-standing lack of standards providing for the specific characteristics and needs of women offenders and prisoners.

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Read the Bangkok Rules here

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The Tokyo Rules

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The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 1990.  The Tokyo Rules sets forth the principles to be followed by member nations in order to promote the use of non-custodial measures, and minimum safeguards for persons subject to alternatives to imprisonment.

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Read the Tokyo Rules here 

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A Practical Guide to Understanding and Evaluating Prison Systems

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"Prisoners’ access to basic necessities should not be at the discretion of correctional staff and subject to restriction or withdrawal. Prison monitoring, carried out effectively, does not simply report on a situation, but encourages positive action to prevent the deterioration of conditions or mistreatment in the future." 

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