Topic: Criminal Justice
How a Legal Aid Program is Tackling the Crisis of Nigeria’s Overcrowded Prisons
In Nigeria, the overuse of pretrial detentions has placed a crushing burden on the justice system and the nation's overcrowded jails. That's where the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme, a legal aid program that has helped over 15,000 suspects, comes in.
Q&A: How a System to Document Police Stops Improved Policing in Fuenlabrada, Spain
Police inspector and criminal justice expert David Martín Abánades shares his insights on the implementation of a new system to collect data on police stops in Fuenlabrada, Spain.
The Recording of Police Stops and Toolkit for the Analysis of Police Identifications
These toolkits seek to provide an overview of best practices regarding the recording of police stops, routine interactions between officers and the public, and the analysis of this data to improve policing.
Claudia Medina v. Secretaría de Marina and Fiscalia General de la República
The Mexican Navy has committed systemic patterns of torture and sexual violence with the rubber stamp approval of the prosecutor's office.
New Report Takes Stock of Court Reparations Rulings across Latin America
Courts across Latin America have developed innovative approaches to the challenge of delivering reparations to the victims of violence. A new report outlines lessons learned.
Regulating Police Stop and Search: An Evaluation of the Northamptonshire Police: Reasonable Grounds Panel—Fact Sheet
This fact sheet outlines how unique initiative between police and community members in Northamptonshire, UK has resulted in a more lawful and effective use of stop and search.
Regulating Police Stop and Search: An Evaluation of the Northamptonshire Police Reasonable Grounds Panel
This report outlines how a unique initiative between police and community members in Northamptonshire, UK has resulted in a more lawful and effective use of stop and search.
Case Watch: UN Finds Mexico Responsible for Man’s Disappearance, Relies on Witness’s Word
There are more than 40,000 people who are missing in Mexico. One family’s journey to find out what happened to their son could help others seeking justice.
Askarov v. Kyrgyzstan
Azimjan Askarov, now in his sixties, was detained and tortured by police in the aftermath of ethic violence in June 2010. He was given a life prison sentence after a manifestly unfair trial.
Akmatov v. Kyrgyzstan
Turdubek Akmatov was taken to the local police station in Kyrgyzstan and severely beaten during ten hours in custody. He died a few hours after being released without charge.
Ernazarov v. Kyrgyzstan
This case concerns the death in custody of Rahmanberdi Ernazarov, who was arrested in November 2005 and charged with the serious sexual offense of forced sodomy.
Almost a Decade after his Death, Sergei Magnitsky Gets a Measure of Justice
The ruling from Europe's human rights court validates the underlying rationale for the laws adopted by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and some other countries to impose sanctions on designated individuals implicated in gross human rights abuses.
Q&A: Mothers Are Leading the Search for Mexico’s Missing People
Mexico continues to break records for its rates of deadly violence and disappearances, but criminal accountability remains virtually absent. A group of mothers in the state of Coahuila have taken up their own fight for truth and justice.
To Strengthen the Rule of Law, Protect the Independence of Prosecutors
The case of Laura Codruţa Kövesi at the European Court of Human Rights underlines the importance of prosecutorial independence in protecting the rule of law.
Volunteer Lawyers Give New Direction to Nigerian Legal Aid Initiative
In the town of Ikorodu, local lawyers are delivering free legal aid to detainees within 48 hours of arrest and joining an effort to steer people charged with nonviolent crimes away from unnecessary detention.
When It Comes to Race, European Justice Is Not Blind
A new survey of 12 EU member countries shows that how people are treated by the police and the courts often depends on their race or ethnic background.
Ending Racial Bias in Police Stop and Search
Despite recent reforms, police in the UK continue to unfairly target people of color when using stop and search. A new report should be a wake-up call to those who still defend this failed, counterproductive policy.
Submission to the UN Commission against Torture Review of the Netherlands
This submission argues that the Dutch government’s use of specialized high-security “terrorist” detention units has led to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Khadzhiyev and Muradova v. Turkmenistan
This case challenged the arbitrary killing of Ogulsapar Muradova, a journalist and human rights activist, who was tortured and died in custody in Turkmenistan in September 2006.
Mexico’s Criminal Justice System Is Failing. It’s Time for a New Vision of Reform
Human rights advocates, as well as a diverse collection of artists and policymakers, are calling on the government to seek international support in order to reinvigorate a discredited justice system.
