Prison and the brain: Neuropsychological research in the light of the European Convention on Human Rights
Author | Sjors Ligthart,Tijs Kooijmans,Jesse Meijers,Laura van Oploo,Gerben Meynen |
Published date | 01 September 2019 |
Date | 01 September 2019 |
DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/2032284419861816 |
Article
Prison and the brain:
Neuropsychological
research in the light of
the European Convention
on Human Rights
Sjors Ligthart
Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Laura van Oploo
Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Jesse Meijers
Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands
Gerben Meynen
Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands
Tijs Kooijmans
Tilburg University, The Netherlands
Abstract
Prison is by its nature a deliberately impoverished environment, with few physical, mental and
social activities. Various studies have shown negative effects of an impoverished environment on
animal as well as human brain functions. A recent study in a Dutch remand prison showed that
brain functions connected with self-regulation decline after 3 months of imprisonment. Reduced
self-regulation appears to be a risk factor for recidivism. In this article, we examine the legal
implications of these neuropsychological findings in a European context. Firstly, we analyse these
results in the light of the principle of rehabilitation as interpreted in case law of the European Court
of Human Rights. Secondly, we explore how the neuropsychological insights could be relevant in
the context of the prohibition of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment (Article 3 of the
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)). We argue that if the impoverished prison
Corresponding author:
Sjors Ligthart, Department of Criminal Law, Tilburg Law School, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, Tilburg 5000 LE,
The Netherlands.
E-mail: s.l.t.j.ligthart@uvt.nl
New Journal of European Criminal Law
2019, Vol. 10(3) 287–300
ªThe Author(s) 2019
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/2032284419861816
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