ABSTRACT
In most of the jurisdictions covered by the present volume, the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on prison and penal policy. Governments and prison administrations tried to reduce (at least temporarily) prison population rates in order to restrict infection risks inside prison. The high admission rate of short-term prisoners in particular has heightened awareness of the health risks of a rapid turnover of prisoners. Although there are doubts about whether these strategies will become permanent, the present chapter seeks to develop them into a reductionist and moderating penal policy. The experiences under the pandemic could stimulate further reforms by avoiding unnecessary imprisonment in the areas of pre-trial detention, short-term and long-term imprisonment, which are seen as a human rights issue.
