UNODC has the mandate to assist countries in building and reforming their prison systems, and in implementing non-custodial sanctions and measures in compliance with human rights principles and UN standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice. UNODC offers assistance in improving legal safeguards for prisoners; introducing and widening the scope of alternatives to pre-trial detention within domestic criminal codes; increasing the scope of alternatives to imprisonment, decriminalizing certain acts, and reducing sentences for selected offences; and supporting offenders and ex-offenders to address their social reintegration needs (including in the area of criminal justice as well as labor, education, and social welfare). The following tools and services can be especially helpful in taking these efforts forward at the local level.
Alternatives to Imprisonment for Women Offenders e-learning course
UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules)
Handbook of Basic Principles and Promising Practices on Alternatives to Imprisonment
Handbook on Prisoner File Management
Handbook on Prisoners with Special Needs
Handbook on Women and Imprisonment
Training curriculum on Women and Imprisonment
Handbook on Strategies to Reduce Overcrowding in Prisons
Training Material on HIV/AIDS Prevention in Prison Settings
Introductory Handbook on the Prevention of Recidivism and the Social Reintegration of Offenders
Handbook on Dynamic Security and Prison Intelligence
Handbook on the Management of High-Risk Prisoners
Assessing compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules: A checklist for internal inspection mechanisms
UNODC Roadmap for the Development of Prison-based Rehabilitation Programmes
The Report on the Urban Safety Governance Assessment in Mathare, Nairobi City - The assessment aimed to identify local challenges and opportunities related to urban safety and good governance and develop appropriate strategies and policies... read more
COVID-19 Response & Complex Emergencies - UNODC co-convened the thematic session: 'Bolstering local action to control the pandemic and accelerate implementation' ahead of the High Level Political Forum 2020... read more
Urban Safety Governance Assessments in Chilanzar - UNODC’s Urban Safety Governance Assessment is currently underway and results of the Assessment are expected in the third quarter of 2020... read more
Newsroom
Safety Governance Assessment Guide (EN) (ES) (RU)
Visit the Safety Audit Websites of Queretaro and Cali
See the Family Skills Training Programmes in low- and middle-income countries
Visit the UNODC Crime Prevention Webpages
