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The Politics of Fear: Latin America Backslides on Excessive Pretrial Detention
Denying pretrial release to suspects, regardless of the potential threat, has become a favored strategy for politicians eager to present themselves as "tough on crime".
European Parliamentarians Urge Proper Investigation of Magnitsky Death
The Open Society Justice Initiative has welcomed a call from European parliamentarians for the Russia to fully investigate the death in custody of whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky.
Justice 2015: Measuring Justice in the Post-2015 Development Framework
How access to information, legal identity, legal participation, and legal services could be incorporated into the world's new development agenda. A primer on justice targets.
What is Pretrial Justice?
What does a functioning pretrial justice system look like? This fact sheet lays out in simple graphic terms the main steps towards ensuring proper protection of detainee rights.
2014–2019: Strengthening Arrest Rights in the European Union
This fact sheet sets out the remaining priorities for development of E.U.-wide standards on arrest and criminal procedural rights.
Justice Initiatives: Legal Empowerment
Eight case studies look at how legal empowerment projects can reduce poverty and help people realize their rights; with a forward by George Soros.
Envisioning a Better Future for Pretrial Detention in Africa
A new African initiative takes aim at the excessive and arbitrary use of pretrial detention and its associated human and economic costs.
African States Need to do More to Combat the Use of Torture
More African states need to take steps to make the use of torture a criminal offense, and to set up preventative monitoring and other measures to eradicate its use.
Accord on Access to a Lawyer will Strengthen European Arrest Rights
A new EU directive will require police in all member states to ensure that suspects have appropriate access to a lawyer before questioning.
New Insights into Pretrial Detention in Three West African Countries
Three new reports from Sierra Leone, Ghana and Guinea Conakry paint a similar picture of the costs of excessive and unnecessary pretrial detention.
The Socioeconomic Impact of Pretrial Detention in Guinea Conakry
Three non-governmental organizations surveyed 105 adult pretrial detainees in two prisons to gather information on how their detention affected their socioeconomic position.
The Socioeconomic Impact of Pretrial Detention in Ghana
A report on the impact of pretrial detention in Ghana based on a survey of the experiences of 45 adults held in Kumasi prison.
The Socioeconomic Impact of Pretrial Detention in Sierra Leone
A report on the costs of pretrial detention in Sierra Leone, based on a random survey of 128 adults held in three prisons.
Africa Moves Ahead on Pretrial Detention Guidelines
A new initiative recognizes the need to address the drivers of excessive and arbitrary pretrial detention that aggravate prison overcrowding.
Legal Tools: Early Access to Justice in Europe
Part of a toolkit on arrest rights in Europe, this “template brief” from the Open Society Justice Initiative provides lawyers with arguments and research to support litigation in domestic courts.
Legal Tools: Arrest Rights and the Right to Information
Part of a toolkit on arrest rights in Europe, this “template brief” from the Open Society Justice Initiative provides lawyers with research on the right of suspects to obtain information during criminal proceedings.
Legal Tools: Right to Legal Aid
Part of a toolkit on arrest rights in Europe, this “template brief” from the Open Society Justice Initiative provides lawyers with research on the right to legal aid for suspects and accused persons.
Legal Tools: International Standards on Criminal Defense Rights
This case digest sets out relevant extracts of the ICCPR and summaries of all of the key case law interpreting those standards by the Human Rights Committee.
Legal Tools: European Standards on Criminal Defense Rights
This case digest covers all of the core procedural rights that underpin access to justice and a fair trial. It summarizes all key case law from the European Court of Human Rights.
Legal Tools: An Arrest Rights Toolkit for Lawyers
The first hours after arrest are crucial. If suspects don’t have access to basic criminal defense, they’re left vulnerable. A new resource aims to assist lawyers, police, and judges to advocate for arrest rights in Europe.