Biography
Terry Hackett is an internationally recognized expert in prison reform, detention management, and criminal justice system transformation, with more than 30 years of professional experience across domestic, international, and conflict-affected settings. He works as an independent consultant supporting governments and international organizations on prison reform, detention standards, leadership, and rule of law–based criminal justice systems.
From 2018 to 2025, Terry worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), most recently as Head of the Persons Deprived of Liberty Unit in Geneva. In this role, he provided institutional policy and practice leadership in relation to the work of the ICRC across prison, police, military, and migration detention systems across 75 countries, overseeing large-scale multidisciplinary programmes and engaging directly with senior government officials, justice ministries, and correctional authorities. He conducted operational missions and in-depth technical engagements in over 20 countries, with a focus on translating international standards into practical prison operations, strengthening detention governance, and promoting humane treatment and detention conditions in complex and challenging environments.
Prior to his international work, he spent 22 years with the Correctional Service of Canada, serving in a wide range of frontline, managerial, and executive roles. His senior appointments included Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Correctional Operations (Pacific Region), and Director of multiple federal institutions across different security levels. Further, he was deployed to Afghanistan as the Senior Canadian Correctional Official (2009–10), supporting correctional reform efforts. This experience provides him with deep practical insight into prison operations, staff management, crisis response, and accountability mechanisms.
Terry has extensive experience supporting prison reform initiatives, working closely with ministries of justice and health, prison services, police, judiciary, and other criminal justice actors. He has advised on prison overcrowding, infrastructure, alternatives to detention, health in prisons, human resource management, leadership and governance, compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules, and the use of technology in custodial settings. He previously served as Lead Consultant for the development of UNODC’s Nelson Mandela Rules e-Learning Programme, and as a Senior Expert with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, supporting correctional reform initiatives in Kenya. He holds a Master of Advanced Studies in International Law in Armed Conflict (Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights), a Master of Arts in Human Security and Peacebuilding (Royal Roads University), and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Trinity Western University).
In recognition of his service, Terry has received several Canadian honours, including the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal, the Operational Service Medal and Bar – South West Asia, the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the General Service Medal – South West Asia.
