This book offers an overview of relevant Council of Europe standards on prison matters as developed in binding texts such as conventions and protocols, as well as Committee of Ministers recommendations and resolutions.

It also includes conventions and recommendations which do not deal directly with penitentiary questions but whose topics are of importance to people who are detained and staff working with them - subjects such as the transfer of sentenced prisoners, conditional release or other community sanctions and measures, or mediation.

The present compilation of standard-setting texts relating to penitentiary issues is intended for the use of courts, parliaments and national authorities including the prison administration, and also prison staff, detainees, non-governmental organisations and practitioners working in the field.