Haiti

In January 2010 almost 5,000 prisoners escaped or were released from falling buildings in the aftermath of the earthquake, allowing gangs of criminals to return to the streets of Port-au-Prince. The Stabilisation Unit has responded to a direct request from the Government of Haiti and the UN mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to provide targeted assistance to the prison sector. A team of  prison  experts from the CSG  were deployed to Port-au-Prince for six months to help rebuild and refurbish prisons destroyed in the earthquake.

The team also provided advice to the Haitian prison authorities on improving the management and operation of prisons by better security and contingency planning and on meeting international standards for prisons. They worked closely with the Haitian Government and international partners to help get the prison sector back on track.