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New report on pretrial detention and healthcare

last updated Nov 15, 2011

The Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) has released a new report on health conditions and health services in pretrial detention in developing and transitional countries. Despite being designed as a temporary place of deprivation of liberty many pretrial detention facilities accommodate detainees for a long period, thus increasing the risk of contracting disease.

Detainees often have to live in filthy conditions with no access to fresh air, sanitation facilities, health services or adequate food. The report analyses the health impact of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of detainees and the failure of the state to ensure humane living conditions. In some cases, detainees even die as a result of the lack of adequate medical treatment.


Many of the health conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C need constant medical care which in many developing and transitional countries is not provided to pretrial detainees. The report also names the importance of health professionals and academic experts in addressing the problems.


OSJI (2011) Report: Pretrial Detention and Health: Unintended Consequences, Deadly Results

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