ABSTRACT
The prison world is gradually required to take greater account of the specific needs of inmates, to adopt a tailor-made approach to sanctioning and to respect the principle of non-discrimination. This can be a complex task, in particular with regards to sexual and gender minorities. This article looks back at the framework document issued by the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Prison and Probation (SCEPP) dedicated to LGBTIQ+ inmates. With a focus on transgender inmates, the article reports on the findings of the research and subsequently provides an analysis of the situation of a transgender inmate in Champ-Dollon prison. Particular emphasis is put on the principle of gender self-determination. According to the authors, this principle is essential to ensure that transgender persons are treated in a way that respects their dignity.
Le monde carcéral est amené à mieux considérer les besoins spécifiques des personnes détenues, dans une optique d'individualisation de la sanction et de respect du principe de non-discrimination. Cela s'avère parfois complexe, en particulier pour les minorités sexuelles et de genre. Cet article revient sur l'élaboration du document-cadre du Centre suisse de compétences en matière d'exécution des sanctions pénales (CSCSP) consacré aux personnes LGBTIQ+ (lesbiennes, gays, bisexuelles, transgenres, intersexuées et queer). En se focalisant sur les personnes transgenres, cet article rend compte de l'état des lieux réalisé, puis analyse le cas d'une personne transgenre à la prison de Champ-Dollon. L'accent est mis sur le respect du principe d'autodétermination en matière de genre. Aux yeux des auteurs, ce dernier est essentiel pour garantir le respect de la dignité des personnes transgenres.
Subject(s)
Transgender Persons , Ethnicity , Humans , Prisons , Sexual BehaviorABSTRACT
Violence is common in prison and its individual risk factors are well documented. However, there is a mixed evidence on the relationship between prison violence and institutional factors, such as overcrowding and turnover, and recent research suggested that these factors may not be important or relevant. This study investigated the association between prison violence and institutional factors in a Swiss pre-trial prison between 2013 and 2018. Measures included violence (assaults requiring immediate medical attention) as well as the annual overcrowding and turnover rates. Using a meta-regression, the results showed that prison violence was higher when overcrowding and turnover increased. Overall, our study highlighted that institutional prison factors might have notable detrimental effects on prison life. Reduction of prison overcrowding and turnover appear critical to reduce prisoners' vulnerability. Turning prison into safe places designed to promote desistance would probably not be achievable without considering these crucial factors.
ABSTRACT
Self-harm is a common issue in detention and includes both suicidal and non-suicidal behaviours. Beyond well-known individual risk factors, institutional factors such as overcrowding (i.e., when the prison population exceeds its capacity) and turnover (i.e., the rate at which the prison population is renewed), may also increase the risk of self-harm. However, these factors are understudied or previous studies reported inconsistent findings. This study investigated the association of self-harm with overcrowding and turnover in the largest pre-trial Swiss prison in Geneva. Data were collected yearly between 2011 and 2017. Measures included self-harm (all kinds of self-injuring acts requiring medical attention, including self-strangulations and self-hangings). We performed meta-regressions to analyse the relationships between self-harm and institutional factors. Self-harm events were frequent, with a prevalence estimate of 26.4%. Overcrowding and turnover were high (average occupation rate of 177% and average turnover of 73%, respectively). Overcrowding and turnover were significantly associated with self-harm (respectively b = 0.068, p < 0.001 and (b = 1.257, p < 0.001). In both cases, self-harm was higher when overcrowding and turnover increased. Overcrowding and turnover raise important human rights concerns and have damaging effects on the health of people living in detention. Identification of and care for this vulnerable population at risk of self-harm are needed and institutional factors should be addressed.
