Medical-Legal Advocacy in

Haiti:The Health & Human

Rights

Prison Project

Partners In HealthZanmi Lasante

Institute for Justice & Democracy in HaitiBureau des Avocats Internationaux

François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health & Human Rights

Introduction

“comparable to a

slave ship” Photo Source: IJDH

Legal Issues

Prison Capacity

Case Management

Prolonged Pretrial Detention

Photo Source: PIH

Photo Source: AP

Health Issues

Overcrowding

Limited Food, Water, Sanitation, or Medical Care

Malnutrition and Disease

Public Health Impact Inside Prison: Health

of prisoners and guards

Outside Prison:

Health of visitors and the community

Photo Source: Human Rights Defenders Initiative

Agency Partners

Institute for Justice &

Democracy in Haiti

Zanmi Lasante;Bureau des

Avocats Internationaux

Partners In Health;

FXB Center

Scope of Work

ALE Goals To develop baseline legal data at Hinche,

Mirebalais and Saint Marc prisons To demonstrate need for broader reform

Objectives To determine prisoners’ legal status To assess factors affecting length of

detention To identify problems in judicial processing

Methodology

Legal Intake Surveys

Statistical Analysis

Individual Case Review

Data ReportPhoto Source: PIH

Results

Sample Size: 388 respondents

Sex: 363 males, 25 females

Age Range: 13 to 87

Mean Age: 32 Minors: 22

Photo Source: PIH

Charges

WeaponsFraud

KidnappingOther*Drugs

Criminal AssociationAssault

Sexual AssaultHomicide

Theft

0% 30%10% 20% 40% 50%

*Arson, trespassing, debt and bigamy

Percentage Distribution of Charges (n=380)

Legal StatusConvicted Detainees as a Proportion

of the Prison Population (n=388)

National

Average = 17%

National Penitentiary = 4%

Hinche, Mirebalais, St. Marc =

46.4%Other Rural Prisons =

27.6%

Pretrial DetentionMaximum Length Under Haitian Law

4 months, or approx. 121 days

Median Length Convicted Prisoners: 182 days

Pretrial Detainees: 195 days +

Legal Assistance

Photo Source: IJDH

Prisoner Abuse

Abused: 39.2% During Arrest: 24 During Detention: 6 Didn’t Specify: 120

Not Abused: 57.2%

Prefer Not to Answer: 3.6%

Photo Source: WeHaitians.com

Lost Livelihoods 85% of prisoners

used to support dependents

Strain on Families 76.5% of prisoners

receive visitors Families pay $5 to

visit, on average

Social Costs

Photo Source: UN

Limitations

Survey Design

Interviews

Translation

Interpretation

Photo Source: PIH

ConclusionWork Product Baseline Data Demonstrate Need

Future Steps Improve Methods Measure Progress

Photo Source: PIH

Photo Source: PIH

Brian ConcannonInstitute for Justice & Democracy in

Haiti

Mario JosephBureau des Avocats Internationaux

Evan LyonPartners In Health

Arlan FullerFXB Center

Samantha DiamondYale University

Sarah Mi Ra DoughertyNortheastern University

Acknowledgments