Prison inspection and monitoring bodies are important safeguards against breaches of human rights. In recent years, prison inspection and monitoring has become a key focus for international human rights standards, particularly through the introduction of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and the UN’s Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which recognize the need for robust and effective systems of prison oversight. This article contends that European legal standards on inspection and monitoring have not kept pace with international developments. The content of European law concerning domestic-level prison inspection and monitoring is not clear, nor has it been consolidated or examined in depth. Through engaging in comparative analysis with international instruments, this article analyses standards promulgated by Council of Europe and European Union bodies on inspection and monitoring, arguing that they need reform in light of international developments. Taking the opportunity presented by the revision process for the European Prison Rules and associated commentary, the article proposes improvements to European legal frameworks. It welcomes proposals for stronger powers for inspection and monitoring bodies, advocates for a specific instrument on prison inspection and monitoring and calls for more empirical understanding of how such bodies operate in practice.

中文翻译：

---

监狱检查和监督：改革欧洲法律和政策的必要性

监狱检查和监督机构是防止侵犯人权的重要保障。近年来，监狱检查和监测已成为国际人权标准的一个重点，特别是通过引入《禁止酷刑公约任择议定书》（OPCAT）和联合国《囚犯待遇最低限度标准规则》，其中承认需要健全和有效的监狱监督系统。本文认为，欧洲关于检查和监测的法律标准没有跟上国际发展的步伐。欧洲法律关于国内监狱检查和监测的内容不明确，也没有进行深入的整合或审查。通过与国际文书进行比较分析，本文分析了欧洲委员会和欧盟机构颁布的关于检查和监测的标准，认为它们需要根据国际发展进行改革。利用欧洲监狱规则和相关评论的修订过程提供的机会，本文建议改进欧洲法律框架。它欢迎为检查和监督机构提供更强大权力的提议，倡导制定关于监狱检查和监督的具体工具，并呼吁对这些机构在实践中的运作方式有更多的经验性理解。利用欧洲监狱规则和相关评论的修订过程提供的机会，本文建议改进欧洲法律框架。它欢迎为检查和监督机构提供更强大权力的提议，倡导制定关于监狱检查和监督的具体工具，并呼吁对这些机构在实践中的运作方式有更多的经验性理解。利用欧洲监狱规则和相关评论的修订过程提供的机会，本文建议改进欧洲法律框架。它欢迎为检查和监督机构提供更强大权力的建议，倡导制定关于监狱检查和监督的具体工具，并呼吁对这些机构在实践中的运作方式有更多的经验性理解。