By Kellie Moss, Kristy Warren

Prisoners in Guyana have been protesting about living conditions and an overtly punitive environment since British colonial rule (1814–1966). Drawing upon official investigations, colonial records and newspaper reports, this article analyses some of the key features of resistance, including uprisings, escapes and everyday breaches of prison rules from the 19th century to the present day. It argues that Guyanese society is still impacted by the punitive nature of colonial plantation society which compels and informs prisoner experiences and responses in the nation's prisons today.

The Howard Journal of Crime and JusticeVolume 63, Issue 4: Colonialism and its aftermaths in prisons in Guyana Dec 2024 Pages 355-480