10–11 December 2026 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | In person and online

The Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School is pleased to join organising partners for the Second Global Congress on Prison Innovation, Penal Reform and Social Reintegration, hosted at UNAPEC in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Opening on Human Rights Day, the two-day Congress will bring together prison service leaders, policymakers, practitioners and scholars to exchange experiences and explore practical approaches to prison reform. Discussions will address challenges including overcrowding, access to rehabilitation, mental health needs, the protection of human rights and pathways to effective social reintegration.

Organising partners include the Dominican Republic’s Oficina Nacional de Apoyo a la Reforma Penitenciaria (ONAPREP), UNAPEC, the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Fordham Law School and other Dominican universities. The Congress aims to strengthen international cooperation and connect research, policy and practice across prison systems.

Participation will be available in person and online, with English and Spanish as the Congress languages.

Learn more and view the call for papers | Register to attend