International cooperation aimed at the reduction of prison overcrowding and the promotion of alternative sentencing

Urges Member States, if they have not yet done so, to consider introducing appropriate alternatives to imprisonment in their criminal justice systems; recommends to Member States that have not yet done so to consider the adoption of effective measures to reduce pre-trial detention; also recommends to Member States, subject to national law, the consideration of the following: (a) dealing with petty offences according to customary practice where such practice exists, provided that doing so meets human rights requirements and that those involved so agree; (b) if possible, using amicable means of settlement to deal with petty offences and resolving those offences among the parties; (c) if possible, preferring community service and other non-custodial measures to imprisonment; (d) conducting a study on the feasibility of adapting successful models of non-custodial measures and applying them in States where they are not yet being applied; (e) educating the public about the objectives of the above-mentioned alternatives to imprisonment and about how those alternatives work; invites international and regional financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to incorporate in their technical assistance programmes measures to reduce prison overcrowding.

Adopted without vote, 44th plenary meeting

"Annex I: Kadoma Declaration on Community Service": p. 53-54.
"Annex II: Recommendations of the seminar entitled "Criminal justice: the challenge of prison overcrowding", held at San José, from 3-7 Feb. 1997": p. 54-55.
In: Resolutions and decisions of the Economic and Social Council, organizational session for 1998, New York, 22 Jan. and 3 and 6 Feb. 1998; resumed organizational session for 1998, New York, 7 May 1998; substantive session of 1998, New York, 6-31 July and 5 Aug. 1998; resumed substantive session of 1998, New York, 16 Dec. 1998 - E/1998/98 - p. 52-55 - (ESCOR, 1998, Suppl. no. 1).