This book deals with the prison rules that are in force in Europe and examines in particular all aspects of imprisonment and prisons such as the use of force, the selection of prison staff and the protection of prisoners' human rights. The book is based on Committee of Ministers Recommendation Rec(2006)2 on the European Prison Rules, which was adopted in January 2006 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The recommendation continues the work started within the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights and of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The first part of the book, containing the text of the recommendation, is followed by a commentary which explains in detail the points and rules of the recommendation. The final section provides an overview of the recent developments in European Prison Rules and is a contextual report analysing the effectiveness of these rules and of imprisonment as a form of punishment.

This work will be of interest to human rights scholars, researchers and students of law, criminology and international relations.

The Council of Europe has 46 member states, covering virtually the entire continent of Europe. It seeks to develop common democratic and legal principles based on the European Convention on Human Rights and other reference texts on the protection of individuals. Ever since it was founded in 1949, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the Council of Europe has symbolised reconciliation.