Phase 1
Understanding the Environmental Conditions of Detention (Edinburgh, UK) Workshop 10 June 2024
Understanding the Environmental Conditions of Detention built on academic research, detention monitoring practice and practical understandings of how environmental conditions within places of detention can cross the threshold of prohibited treatment. Environmental conditions that can contribute to findings of ill-treatment include sonic conditions, temperature conditions and light manipulation, among others. Consolidating the knowledge of international experts on the prohibition against torture, the project brings together key researchers across law, musicology and criminology and practitioners to explore the variable ways in which the environmental conditions of detention can individually and collectively degrade an individual’s detention experience to a point that amounts to prohibited treatment.
This workshop aimed to consolidate existing research on the environmental conditions of detention, both broadly conceived and in specific relation to vulnerable groups. Previous research identified that environmental conditions of detention can exacerbate existing physical and mental vulnerabilities of detainees. These conditions may be created through punishment, such as the use of loud music or light manipulation, or result from neglect of detainees’ needs, such as overuse of air conditioning and lack of consideration of health impacts of, e.g. environmental noise.
Phase 1 of the project and the resulting briefing paper benefited from the workshop participation and contributions of the following:
- Dru Brenner-Beck, University of Edinburgh, Retired Judge Advocate General, USA
- Lucy Cathcart Frødén, University of Oslo, Norway
- Sam Gluckstein, National Preventive Mechanism, UK
- Morag Grant, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Kate Herrity, Cambridge University, UK
- Tigran Karapetyan, Council of Europe
- Jane Kilpatrick, National Preventive Mechanism, UK
- Conall Mallory, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
- Kasey McCall-Smith, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Colin McKay, Edinburgh Napier University, UK
- Manfred Nowak, Global Campus of Human Rights, Italy
- Anna Papaeti, Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation
- James Parker, Melbourne Law School, Australia
- Megan Price, University of Sheffield, UK
- Lindsey Reynolds, lawyer, UK
- Layla Skinns, University of Sheffield, UK
- Anna Souhami, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Jim Watson, University of the West of Scotland, UK
- Elaine Webster, Strathclyde University, UK
Reporters for the workshop included: Darcy Fahey, Ambareen Huq, and Shingo Nishioka.
This phase of the project was funded by the University of Edinburgh College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Knowledge Exchange and Impact Grant and the Edinburgh College of Art Research, Knowledge Exchange and Impact Fund.
Phase 2
Expanding Global Understandings of the Environmental Conditions of Detention (Edinburgh, UK) Workshop, 12-13 May 2025
Expanding Global Understandings of the Environmental Conditions of Detention is a joint University of Edinburgh/UK National Preventive Mechanism Project which will build on academic research, detention monitoring practice and practical understandings of how environmental conditions within places of detention can cross the threshold of prohibited treatment. In the first phase of this project (June 2024), academics and practitioners came together to discuss how specific environmental conditions contribute to findings of ill-treatment including sound, temperature, light and air quality conditions.
In phase 2 of this project, we aim to cast our net wider and expand our knowledge base regarding further aspects of detention conditions that we were unable to address in the first phase. The purpose is to explore how different environmental conditions both within detention settings, as well as the broader physical/geographical landscapes in which they sit, can shape detention experiences.
Phase 2 of the project benefited from the workshop participation and contributions of the following:
- Sarah Angus, Scottish Prison Service, UK
- Jamie Bennett, HM Prison and Probation Service, UK
- Sara Blanc Thoumine, Prison Insider, France
- Anne-Sophie Bonnet, Contrôleur général des lieux de privation de liberté, France
- Volodymyr Boriak, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Lucy Cathcart Frödén, University of Oslo, Norway
- Vincent Delbos, CPT Conseil de l’Europe
- Antonella Dionisi, National Guarantor for the Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty, Italy
- Sam Gluckstein, National Preventive Mechanism, UK
- Morag Grant, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Kate Herrity, Kings College, University of London, UK
- Emma Jardine, Howard League Scotland, UK
- Jane Kilpatrick, National Preventive Mechanism, UK
- Inna Klause, Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation
- Kasey McCall-Smith, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Tony McDonnell, EuroPris
- Gordon McKean, Scottish Prison Service, UK
- Giuliana Monina, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights, Austria
- John Myrne, Kier Construction, UK
- Pavel Niakhayeu, Independent Researcher
- Sarah Rennie, National Preventive Mechanism, UK
- Bruno Rodriguez Reveggino, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Mary Rogan, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Elizabeth Salmon, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Peru
- Sharon Shalev, SolitaryConfinement.org/University of Oxford, UK
- Thomas Verstege, National Preventive Mechanism, Belgium
- Jim Watson, University of the West of Scotland, UK
- Ksenia Žurakovskaja-Aru, Office of the Estonian Chancellor of Justice, Estonia
Reporters for the workshop included: Eline De Sagher, Kanie Juanroyee, Mrinalini Srivastava and Mia Zitzlaff.
Funded provided by: Impact Acceleration Grant from the ESRC Impact Acceleration Grant awarded to the University of Edinburgh (grant reference ES/X00466X/1).
The Concept Note underpinning this phase of the project can be found below.
Phase 3
Towards a Broader Global Understanding of the Environmental Conditions of Detention (Focus on the Americas, Lima, Peru) Workshop September 8 – 9 September 2025
As with the previous phases, Towards a Broader Global Understanding of the Environmental Conditions of Detention is a joint University of Edinburgh/UK National Preventive Mechanism Project. In phase 3 of this project, we aim to expand our knowledge base regarding further aspects of detention conditions with a particular focus on the Americas. The purpose is to explore how different environmental conditions both within detention settings, as well as the broader physical/geographical landscapes in which they sit, can shape detention experiences.
This workshop aims to strengthen the capacity of NPMs to enhance oversight, advocate for systemic reforms, and ensure compliance with domestic, international and regional standards, including NPM expectations and the Sub-Committee on the Prevention of Torture recommendations. The workshop will explore common minimum standards for assessing environmental conditions in the Americas, share best practice from existing detention facility monitors and provide practical tools to enhance scrutiny models, ultimately working to drive improvements to treatment and conditions for those deprived of their liberty.
Funded provided by: Impact Acceleration Grant from the ESRC Impact Acceleration Grant awarded to the University of Edinburgh (grant reference ES/X00466X/1).
The Concept Note underpinning this phase of the project can be found here in English and Spanish.
