Prisons have always been a key focus of those interested in human rights and the rule of law. This book looks at the challenges African governments face in dealing with these issues.Written by some of the most eminent researchers from and on Africa, including the former Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, it provides a detailed consideration of the situation in African prisons and examines how regional and international legal instruments have dealt with human rights concerns such as overcrowding, healthcare, pretrial detention and the treatment of women and children.Critically, the book reveals that there are processes and reforms underway across nations in Africa, and makes recommendations for strengthening and building on them.