The objective of this study was to assess the living conditions of prisoners in Oromia National Regional State prisons. The scope of this assessment was limited to accommodation, food, water, education and vocational training, sanitation and health. To achieve this predetermined objectives, the research employed both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. To describe the state of affairs as it prevails in the prison, the study used descriptive type of research. The study clustered 20 administrative zones into four clusters and a total of 7 zones with their respective zonal prisons randomly selected using lottery method, except for Oromia Special Zone Around Finfine, which has no Zonal level prison. Further, 7 woreda level prisons selected from sampled zones using lottery method, which mean one woreda from each zone. The only prison TVET in the region was purposely included in the sample.
The research used both primary and secondary data. Prison leaders, prison staff and prisoners were the major sources of primary data, whereas secondary data were collected from Oromia Prison Administration Commission reports, prison centers, published and online sources. Both open-ended and closed-ended questionnaire, interviews, FGD, observation and document analysis were used as data collection instruments. The study revealed that prison buildings were dilapidated and most of them were not built to serve prison purposes. Accommodations were poorly ventilated, poor natural light, lack of toilets in the dormitory, highly overcrowded, and no supply of beds and beddings. It was rare to find separation of prisoners based on age, sentence, health and type of offences. Food provided for detainees was insufficient and with poor quality. Most prisons had series problems of water and sanitation. Almost all prisons found to have problem of health professionals, very poor medication and no laboratory. Schools and TVET were found to be poorly furnished with education materials, lack of teachers, workshops and laboratories. Finally, based on the results of the study the following recommendations were made: bringing dilapidated and substandard prisons to the minimum standard, integration and responsiveness of justice institutions, periodically reviewing prison budgets and having different budget code for settling prison bills, strengthening, equipping and staffing prison clinics, schools and TVET.