Publications
Read and download reports, handbooks, briefing papers, legal and policy submissions, and fact sheets from the Open Society Justice Initiative.
Fact Sheet: How Pretrial Detention Stunts Socioeconomic Development
The excessive and arbitrary use of pretrial detention critically undermines socioeconomic development—and is especially harmful to the poor.
February 2013Fact Sheet: Pretrial Detention and the Risk of Torture
Of the nearly ten million people in detention around the world, those held before trial or conviction are most at risk of torture.
February 2013Fact Sheet: Pretrial Justice and Paralegals in Sierra Leone
The majority of Sierra Leone's prison population is in pretrial detention. To reduce the numbers, a local NGO is piloting a prorgam that provides early legal assistance to criminal defendants.
February 2013Fact Sheet: Pretrial Detention and Corruption
Locking up prisoners for extended periods while awaiting trial feeds corruption; bribes are needed for food and water, for blankets and even to see a lawyer.
February 2013The UN Guidelines and Principles on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems
Five reasons why the new UN Guidelines and Principles on Legal Aid are groundbreaking and progressive.
February 2013Fact Sheet: Improving Pretrial Justice in Africa
Organizations across the region are working to combat excessive pretrial detention. Find out where and how.
October 2012Fact Sheet: The Global Campaign for Pretrial Justice
We seek to document what happens when pretrial justice systems fail, and to develop and share cost-effective ways to get them working.
October 2012The Global Legal Empowerment Initiative
The UN Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor estimates that four billion people live outside the protection of the law. The Open Society Foundations are working to strengthen and expand access to the law for all.
September 2012