These key messages do not cover all of the trends identified in Global Prison Trends 2021, but they represent some of the most pertinent and pressing issues facing criminal justice systems that require urgent attention. 

1. COVID-19 release schemes have done little to halt the rise in prison populations
2. People continue to face increased risk of COVID-19 in prison
3. The overuse of pre-trial detention continues despite the pandemic
4. The pandemic has exacerbated failures in prison healthcare
5. The prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks in many prisons came at a cost to human rights
6. COVID-19 measures in prisons have had a devastating effect on mental health
7. People in prison have widely protested against shortcomings in COVID-19 responses
8. New offences under COVID-19 regulations have affected the most marginalised
9. There are major issues in data collection and transparency in prisons
10. More women are in prison than ever before
11. Children were left behind in COVID-19 responses
12. Prison staff have suffered during the pandemic
13. There has been an increase in alternatives to imprisonment, but with some challenges
14. New technologies have offered a lifeline to many people detained, but not to all
15. Racism in criminal justice systems has been put in the spotlight
16. Life imprisonment sentences are on the rise, causing human rights violations
17. Punitive prohibition- based drug policies are driving up prison populations
18. Universal abolition of the death penalty remains on track, with some setback