Behind the Prison Gates (2014)
- Reports and Studies
- 26 Nov 2014
Behind the Prison Gates provides a detailed account of the findings of a visit to the Belize Central Prison by Joseph Middleton, a leading human rights lawyer in the UK. The visit and the report were commissioned by The Death Penalty Project in order to identify general issues of concern in Belize Central Prison, with a particular focus on those still facing the death penalty, mentally ill prisoners, young offenders, and those serving life sentences. The report also contains recommendations formulated at a one day roundtable discussion held in Belize City in July 2014.
This publication was launched in Belize, in association with the Bar Association of Belize. Those present at the launch included the Honourable Kenneth Benjamin, Chief Justice of Belize and Justices of the Supreme Court, British High Commissioner Peter Hughes OBE as well as members of the legal profession and prison administration, amongst others.
Parvais Jabbar, Co-executive Director of The Death Penalty Project said:
“We hope the recommendations for change and better practice will act as an indispensable starting point for all key stakeholders in Belize, who now need to take urgent action to address fundamental human rights concerns within the Belize criminal justice system, and to improve the standards of treatment for vulnerable prisoners. We understand that a number of the recommendations are already being initiated and this of itself, is a positive move in the right direction.”
Related media articles:
- Watch Joseph Middleton speaking at the launch
- Behind the Prison Gates
- Human Rights Group Goes Behind the Prison Walls
- New Report Prompts Change to Criminal Justice System
Media articles on the one-day roundtable meeting in Belize City in July 2014:
