Prison

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Members of the Military Police of Public Order (PMOP) take control of the Women's Social Adaptation Center (CEFAS) prison in Tamara, 25 km north of Tegucigalpa, on June 26, 2023. The government announced last week that military police would assume control of Honduras's 21 prisons for a period of one year starting July 1, as well as train 2,000 new prison guards after a vicious battle between rival gangs left at least 46 women dead in a prison near the capital Tegucigalpa.

UPDATE: Details emerge on Honduras prison fight that left more than 40 women inmates dead

Jun 28, 2023

By CNA Staff

The massacre was carried out by women belonging to the “Barrio 18” gang against members of “Mara Salvatrucha” (MS-13). Read more

Relatives of inmates of the Women's Center for Social Adaptation (CEFAS) prison cry outside the detention center after a fire following a brawl between inmates in Tamara, some 25 kilometers from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on June 20, 2023.

Church demands answers after at least 48 die in gang fight in Honduran women’s prison

Jun 26, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

According to local authorities, on June 20 there was a confrontation between rival gangs inside the prison that unleashed a... Read more

Pope Francis washes the feet of 12 young men and women, inmates at Casal del Marmo juvenile detention center on Rome’s outskirts, during a Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Pope Francis washes feet of young inmates on Holy Thursday 2023

Apr 6, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 young men and women, inmates at a juvenile prison in Rome, during a... Read more

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami

Parkland shooter’s life sentence is ‘severe and just,’ Miami archbishop says

Oct 14, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami spoke out this week to support a life sentence for the man who killed 17... Read more

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El Chipote: The torture prison where the Nicaraguan dictatorship is holding priests

Aug 25, 2022

By CNA Staff

El Nuevo Chipote, or simply El Chipote, opened in February 2019 to replace the old prison of the same name... Read more

Former Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta of the Diocese of Oran, Argentina.

Victim of Bishop Zanchetta: ‘Don't turn your back on us; we didn’t deserve such treatment’

Aug 13, 2022

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta of Oran, Argentina, was found guilty of abuse and sentenced to prison in March, but in July... Read more

Pope Francis washes the feet of prisoners in Civitavecchia, Italy, April 14, 2022.

Pope Francis washes prisoners’ feet at Mass on Holy Thursday 2022

Apr 14, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope offered the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at a prison in Civitavecchia. Read more

Pope Francis kisses prisoners’ feet at Rome’s Regina Coeli Prison. March 29, 2018.

Pope Francis will wash feet of 12 prisoners on Holy Thursday 2022

Apr 13, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope will visit the prison of Civitavecchia, outside Rome. Read more

Interior views of the Alcatraz Island.

Should prisoners be first, or last in line for COVID vaccine?

Dec 3, 2020

By Matt Hadro

As public officials debate whether prison populations should be among the first or last to receive a COVID vaccine, ethicists... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience Sept. 5, 2018.

Pope Francis: Life imprisonment forgoes the ‘right to start over’

Sep 16, 2019

By Courtney Mares

In an audience with penitentiary staff and prison chaplains, Pope Francis said Saturday that sentencing prisoners to life imprisonment diminishes... Read more

Pope Francis speaks with personnel from the “Regina Coeli” prison Feb. 7, 2019.

Treat inmates with compassion, Pope Francis urges prison staff

Feb 7, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Often spaces of suffering, prisons should be places of hope and the possibility of redemption, Pope Francis told prison personnel... Read more

Inmates construct confessionals for the 2019 World Youth Day.

Inmates building 250 confessionals for 2019 World Youth Day

Dec 22, 2018

Inmates from La Joya and Nueva Joya prisons have begun the construction of 250 confessionals to be used in the... Read more

Pope Francis at Leda’s House on March 2, 2018.

Pope Francis makes surprise visit to mothers, children at detention home

Mar 2, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

On Friday, Pope Francis continued his surprise “Mercy Friday” initiative with a visit to a home that keeps children with... Read more

Prison.

In the US, we're more likely to jail the mentally ill than get them help

Dec 29, 2017

By Matt Hadro

People with severe mental illness are much more likely to be incarcerated than treated for their disorders, say advocates, and... Read more

Rosary.

He overcame prison and drug addiction - thanks to the rosary

Oct 25, 2017

A life of crime and drug addiction landed Khristian Briones, 39, in prison for ten years. During that time, he paid... Read more

Missionaries of Charity at a prison in Rome. Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Mother Teresa once made an incognito visit to a prison in Rome

Sep 2, 2016

Twenty-two years ago, Mother Teresa of Calcutta quietly visited the Regina Coeli prison in Rome, and now, just days before... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, Dec. 16, 2015.

How Pope Francis changed the life of a California teen inmate

Mar 5, 2016

When a juvenile inmate in a California prison wrote to Pope Francis, he did not expect a response.   Read more