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The protection of detainees’ rights is a fundamental obligation of law enforcement, particularly in fragile and post-conflict contexts such as Somalia. Despite existing constitutional and legal safeguards, concerns persist regarding custodial practices. This study aimed to examine the impact of police practices on the rights of detainees in custody in Mogadishu, Somalia. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining questionnaire-based data from police officers and detainees with qualitative accounts of custodial experiences. Descriptive analysis was conducted using SPSS, complemented by thematic analysis and guided by the human rights-based approach and procedural justice theory. The findings reveal a clear discrepancy between police officers’ reported awareness of detainees’ rights and detainees’ experiences, including prolonged pre-trial detention, limited access to legal counsel, and weak procedural safeguards. The study concludes that these violations stem from institutional and procedural weaknesses rather than isolated incidents of misconduct. It recommends strengthening professional training, enhancing oversight and accountability mechanisms, improving police–judiciary coordination, and institutionalising rights-based custodial practices.

Torture by suspension of a detainee such that force of gravity concentrated on an isolated part of the body is common. If the suspension occurs by hyperextension of the shoulder, then the body weight is preferentially focused on the shoulder joints. This form of suspension-related torture is known as strappado, scorpion position, akrab, reverse hanging, and Palestinian hanging. Here, we show the anatomical basis of injury by hyperextension of the shoulder. In the shoulder, the musculoskeletal tissues around the glenohumeral joint (joint capsule, glenoid fossa, and muscles) and the brachial plexus are the focal points of injury when the shoulder is hyperextended. Importantly, when the shoulder is in the hyperextended position, there is both traction on the brachial plexus, and stretching over the humeral head, resulting in compression of the nerve bundles. This could give rise to transient functional impairment, depending on the magnitude of force (weight) and duration of suspension. Most importantly, if clinical examination of a detainee lacks permanent neurologic impairment, but there is testimonial evidence of transient brachial plexopathy, such as resolved weakness of the upper extremity, resolved clumsiness of the hand, and paraesthesia that improved overtime, then the latter supports an evidence-based conclusion about suspension-related shoulder torture. Understanding the anatomy of the shoulder obviates the under detection of this form of torture in survivors without obvious clinical signs at the time of clinical forensic examination. •Torture by suspension can cause shoulder hyperextension.•This is known as reverse hanging, or Palestinian hanging.•Hyperextenion puts traction on the brachial plexus causing neurological impairment

(1) Background: The Italian Constitutional Court’s decision n. 99/2019 abolished the distinction between physical and psychological health care in the Italian prison system. However, this and other changes to the penitentiary system present challenges to prison staff, which may vary based on their roles and backgrounds; (2) Purpose: To create a process of dialogue and collaboration that include different points of view, needs, and proposals regarding mental health in prisons, this study collects and integrates the perspectives of 91 prison staff who work in various capacities in eight prisons in northeast Italy. (3) Methods: Each participant was involved in either a focus group or a semi-structured interview, and thematic analysis was used to process the resulting transcripts; (3) Results: Through this process, 10 themes were derived that highlight the difficulties of working with prisoners with psychiatric disorders or psychological distress, including lack of human and economic resources, lack of positive communication between prisoners and society and a sense of professional incompetency; (4) Conclusions: Based on these themes, the need for increased points of view, dialogue, and collaboration between prison professionals and between prison and society is discussed, and the current feasibility of treating psychiatric disorders in prison is considered.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, in the Italian prison of Santa Maria Capua Vetere (SMCV), prison police repressed a riot with extreme violence, bringing the state of prisons and the conditions of prisoners back to the attention of the Italian public opinion. Objective: This exploratory study aimed to collect the experiences and the competent opinions of the social and health personnel of Italian prisons regarding the episode of violence that happened in SMCV; the general state of health of the Italian prison system was explored, too, together with the collection of proposals for interventions aimed at the eradication of violence in prison. Method: The study employed a qualitative research design. Eighteen social-health workers from 12 Italian prisons were interviewed using in-depth interviews of ~60 min each that were conducted and recorded via Skype video calls. The interview transcripts were analyzed with qualitative reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) to identify the most relevant and recursive themes. Results: Four themes were identified: (1) reactions and thoughts about the events of SMCV; (2) structural problems of Italian prison police; (3) Italian prison system; and (4) reform proposals. Conclusions: A new and deeper awareness of the suffering of the current Italian penitentiary system emerged, together with courageous reform proposals that can restore dignity and centrality to the re-education of the detainees, preventing further future violence.

Prison libraries open a window to the world. Initiatives in close cooperation with organizations outside the prison form a bridge to culture, providing events for detainees that, figuratively speaking, take them beyond the prison walls. This essay examines prison library reading groups, initiatives, and activities that may contribute to detainees’ pulling through the period spent in prison and shaping their personalities. We examine bibliotherapy and its advantages. Providing prison library services to detainees can be a powerful experience for detainees serving their sentences, and the far-reaching and lasting effects of reading are unquestionable. The popularity of the programmes is unbroken. In addition to the detainees’ getting out of the cells and establishing social bonds, these programmes typically improve the detainee’s general mood, reduce their anxiety, and improve their communication and emotional expression skills. In the second part of the article, we collect exciting and unique initiatives from all over the world. The presented cases clearly show that the provision of various reading therapies and cultural and educational activities for detainees can contribute to making prison sentences more tolerable. Collecting innovative experiences and creative solutions is helpful because these initiatives can even serve as models for other countries.

BMI is a time-intensive measurement to assess nutritional status. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) has been studied as a proxy for BMI in adults, but there is no consensus on its optimal use. We calculated sensitivity, specificity and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC) of MUAC for BMI < 18·5, <17 and <16 kg/m2. We designed a system using two MUAC cut-offs, with a healthy (non-thin) 'green' group, a 'yellow' group requiring BMI measurement and a 'red' group who could proceed directly to treatment for thinness. We retrospectively analysed monitoring data collected by the International Committee of the Red Cross in places of detention. 11 917 male detainees in eight African countries. MUAC had excellent discriminatory ability with AUROCC: 0·87, 0·90 and 0·92 for BMI < 18·5, BMI < 17 and BMI < 16 kg/m2, respectively. An upper cut-off of MUAC 25·5 cm to exclude healthy detainees would result in 64 % fewer detainees requiring BMI screening and had sensitivity 77 % (95 % CI 69·4, 84·7) and specificity 79·6 % (95 % CI 72·6, 86·5) for BMI < 18·5 kg/m2. A lower cut-off of MUAC < 21·0 cm had sensitivity 25·4 % (95 % CI 11·7, 39·1) and specificity 99·0 % (95 % CI 97·9, 100·0) for BMI < 16 kg/m2. An additional 50 kg weight requirement improved specificity to 99·6 % (95 % CI 99·0, 100·0) with similar sensitivity. A MUAC cut-off of 25·5 cm, above which detainees are classified as healthy and below receive further screening, would result in significant time savings. A cut-off of <21·0 cm and weight <50 kg can identify some detainees with BMI < 16 kg/m2 who require immediate treatment.

Malaysia is no exception when it comes to the Daesh threat. Several vulnerable Muslim populations have been previously targeted by Daesh via specific modus operandi to fulfil the terrorism agenda. Based on a persistent concern about Daesh-related issues and their consequences, this article critically explores the role of the security agency, the Counter-Terrorism Division within the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), in addressing Daesh radicalisation in Malaysia. It examines the process and effectiveness of the top down and ‘soft’ approaches undertaken by the RMP via the rehabilitation and deradicalisation of former Daesh detainees before they rejoin society. The research is qualitative, and is based on a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews with representatives from the Counter Terrorism Division, terrorism experts, government officials and former detainees. The findings show that the RMP’s efforts to curb Daesh intimidation have been effective in terms of decreasing the number of new terrorism incidents, militant recruitment and the establishment of networks and cells. The introduction of ‘Module 30′, which involves theological and psychological improvement, and civil order, along with vocational training and ‘lifelong-monitoring’, has significantly contributed to rehabilitating and deradicalising the majority of former Daesh convicts in Malaysia, such that they embrace peace and renounce violence and religious extremism.

Background and Objectives: High rates of psychiatric disorders and comorbidities have been reported in juvenile detainees, which have been associated with repeat offenses. However, research into this topic has been limited to Asian countries. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and sexual differences among juvenile detainees in a detention center in South Korea. Materials and Methods: The participants comprised 54 males and 46 females, with a minimum intelligence score of 80. Psychiatric diagnosis was determined using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID). The Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument-Version 2 (MAYSI-2) was used to investigate gender differences. Results: Using the MINI-KID, the most frequent diseases were conduct disorder (CD), alcohol dependence, suicidal tendency, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with statistically significant differences between men and women. Only alcohol abuse was higher in males, while the rest were higher in females. The items with a statistically significant gender difference in MAYSI-2 were alcohol/drug use, feeling depressed/anxious, somatic complaints, suicidal ideation, and traumatic experiences. All items for which gender difference was statistically significant were higher in the proportion of women. Conclusions: Juvenile detainees exhibit high rates of psychiatric disorders and comorbidities. CDs, alcohol dependence, and ADHD are the most common psychiatric disorders among juvenile detainees in South Korea. Assessment of and intervention in psychiatric disorders may help prevent further offenses. These findings highlight the importance of diagnosing and intervening in psychiatric disorders within juvenile detention systems.

Background: Torture, as a fundamental violation of human rights, is unequivocally condemned by all international organizations. Sexual torture is one of the most severe forms of torture, encompassing forced nudity, various forms of humiliation, and physical abuse, including rape. Despite testimonial evidence indicating the incidental use of sexual torture by Israeli authorities, there is a lack of epidemiological research providing a comprehensive understanding of this issue. This study aims to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of ill treatment and sexual torture among Palestinian male detainees and the subsequent impacts. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed a database of 517 former male detainees. The interview protocol included items related to psychological and physical methods of sexual torture, medical impacts, subjective psychological impacts, clinical medical and psychological measures, and psychosocial and community impacts. Results: The findings indicate that the majority of detainees experienced some form of sexual torture, with humiliation being the most common type. The impact of sexual torture are severe, affecting both clinical and social domains. The impacts of sexual torture persist over time and, in some cases, worsen, particularly regarding physical health outcomes. Socially, the consequences extend to the detainees’ families and communities. Conclusions: The prevalence of such torture tactics calls for urgent responses from both the authorities and civil society. These findings highlight the need for proactive measures to address and mitigate the impacts of sexual torture, including independent investigations, robust monitoring, secure reporting mechanisms, the prosecution of perpetrators and comprehensive reparation for victims.

The European Union (EU) has recently reinforced its directives on the legal safeguards that should be guaranteed for individuals in police custody. This reform process has underlined the importance of detainees being informed of the exact reason for their detention and their procedural rights. This study explores the process by which police inform individuals of their rights in Spain now that implementation of the new European rules is mandatory. Our findings suggest that the police meet their obligation to read the detainee’s rights but fail to ensure that these rights are understood. In addition, it has been found that the different individuals involved, that is, detainees, police officers and lawyers, have different expectations about the process of detention, which, on occasions, severely complicates the observation of some procedural safeguards.