Creating humane prison conditions is one of todays greatest challenges, as penitentiary systems remain closed and hidden from the public in many countries. This edited volume studies the development of social work and health services in the penitentiary systems of Central Asia and China in the context of ongoing prison reform. It examines state efforts to apply international prison standards and to create more humane prison conditions in a difficult political environment and in the context of scarce public resources. This publication is one of the first to provide a detailed account of prison health and social work in countries in Central Asia and in China. With contributions by Zhyldyz Bakirova - Tynchtyk Estebes Uulu - Simon Fleißner - Sandugash Ismagulova -Ulla-Britt Klankwarth - Anna Konvissar - Medet Kudabekov - Ingo Ilja Michels - Dalida Mukasheva - Nugul Musaeva - Cholpon Omurakunova- Eric Orosaliev - Ulla Pape - Mariya Prilutskaya - Ehab Salah - Jarkyn Shadymanova- Zhanar Shaidullina - Sergey Soshnikov - Heino Stöver - Hang Su - Nurlan Tulkinbayev - Dinara Yessimova