Prison populations

What are the legal standards? (from the UN minimum rules for treatment of prisoners) 8. The different categories of prisoners shall be kept in separate institutions or parts of institutions taking account of their sex, age, criminal record, their legal status 20. (1) Every prisoner shall be provided by the administration at the usual hours with food of nutritional value adequate for health and strength, of wholesome quality and well prepared and served. 21. (1) Every prisoner who is not employed in outdoor work shall have at least one hour of suitable exercise in the open air daily if the weather permits. 22. (1) At every institution there shall be available the services of at least one qualified medical officer who should have some knowledge of psychiatry. The medical services should be organized in close relationship to the general health administration of the community or nation. 27. Discipline and order shall be maintained with firmness, but with no more restriction than is necessary for safe custody and well-ordered community life. 31. Corporal punishment, punishment by placing in a dark cell, and all cruel, inhuman or degrading punishments shall be completely prohibited as punishments for disciplinary offences.

But what is the law in Brazil? The Brazilian constitution contains explicit guarantees for the protection of the inmate population, among them the injunction that "[p]risoners' physical and moral integrity shall be respected." The constitution of the state of São Paulo provides, for example, that "state prison legislation will guarantee respect for the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners [and] the [right to] defense in cases of disciplinary infractions." the national prison law is extremely modern and contains numerous provisions mandating individualized treatment, protecting inmates' substantive and procedural rights, and guaranteeing them medical, legal, educational, social, religious and material assistance. the Minimum Rules of the Treatment of Prisoners in Brazil (1994) are modeled after the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules. They cover such topics as classification, food, medical care, discipline, prisoners' contact with the outside world, education, work, and voting rights. They are officially described as an "essential guide for all those who work in prison administration."

Global comparisons the U.S. currently has the largest documented prison population in the world, both in absolute and proportional terms –2.03 million people in prison –701 per 100,000 China has the second highest number of prisoners –1.5 million people in prison –But a rate of only 117 per 100k (official figures) Russia has the second highest rate of imprisonment: –606 per 100k –But only 865,000 in prison (International Centre for Prison Studies, King’s College London)