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Berghahn Books Beyond Prison The Fight to Reform Prison Systems around the World 2008 Edition by Ahmed Othmani
"This is an exceptional personal testimony and story of achievement - Ahmed Othmani tells of his own appalling treatment when in detention and how it informed and inspired a lifetime vocation to struggle for the rights of all prisoners everywhere. As the story demonstrates, Othmani is one of those rare individuals who moved from passion and conviction to effective action - he was responsible for the establishment of one of the world's most reliable and mature human rights organizations, in the field of penal reform, Penal Reform International (PRI). His untimely death in Morocco in 2004 deprived the cause of a passionate advocate, but the work goes on." [From the Preface] Table of contents :- ForewordRobert BadinterPrefaceMary RobinsonChapter 1. Journey of a GenerationFrom the arid plains to the cityStarting in politicsFrom activism to repressionThe experience of tortureThe experience of prisonA different way of learning about politicsChapter 2. From Revolution to the Defence of FreedomIn praise of pluralismReaching out to the worldDefending the rights of all: the creation of PRINorth and South, a false dichotomyHumanising prisonChapter 3. Crime and PunishmentDispensing justiceOnly for the powerful...Parallel justice... ...or alternative justice?A diverse situation worldwideJustice and prisonChapter 4. Prisons - a World ApartOvercrowding in prisonsThe United States, Russia and their emulatorsOld and new offencesA crisis of criminal justiceDramatic health and social problemsHalting the mindless reactionChapter 5. Prison - a Caricature of SocietyThe rich and the restFear, order and violenceRisky cohabitationA pathogenic environmentPrisoners and the outside worldWork in prisonChapter 6. Do Prisoners Have Rights?The slow process of developing lawsGood and bad learnersThe ghost gulagThe unique case of RwandaImplementing gacacaChapter 7. Alternatives to PrisonPrevention is betterWhat should replace prison?Community servicePost-sentence rehabilitationChapter 8. Reforming PrisonResistance to reformOutside influencesWhat reforms, and for what kind of prison?A realistic idealWinning over the doubtersPostfaceSimone Othmani Lellouche