Restrictive Regimes in Places of Detention

In August 2018, the ICRC launched a systematic study of restrictive detention regimes in Eurasia, as concerns were growing over the use and potential misuse of such regimes in criminal detention. The research took place in six countries, all member states of the Council of Europe. It showed that, far from being exceptional, restrictive detention regimes were being applied, for protracted periods of time, to a wide range of detainees, who have not always been risk-assessed and who do not necessarily pose a significant risk. This brief document highlights the key findings of the research (the reasons behind detainees being placed in restrictive detention regimes, the experiences under those regimes and the procedural safeguards) and provides recommendations for states to treat all detainees humanely and to reduce harm.