2019 | The offer of activities addressed to inmates is very poor. Inmates of pre-trial detention centres may spend their time in cells and in day centres, they can watch TV, read books from a library, they can play board games and table football. In practice, interviews with inmates during a visit revealed that they spend most of their time in cells and leave them only to take a walk, which is the most attractive form of activity for them. The facilities may organize various interesting meetings, concerts or performances, but such events are only incidental. | Report details |
2022 | In the opinion of the NPM, the time spent by the detainees outside the residential cell is clearly
insufficient. Prisoners have the possibility to take an hour walk once a day, to go to the dayroom on average once/twice a week for about an hour each. Prisoners in employment or studying may spend more time outside the cell.
Persons in pre-trial detention are in a particularly difficult situation in terms of the activities carried out, as they only have the option of an hour's walk and an outing to a day-care centre. It is worth noting that it is not uncommon for pre-trial detention to last for a relatively long time (e.g. continuously for two years). Convicted prisoners (Article 88b of the Executive Penal Code) and pre-trial detainees (Article 212a of the Executive Penal Code) with the "N" [dangerous – ed.] status are in the most difficult situation. Despite the fact that Articles 88b and 212b of the Executive Penal Code provide for this group of detainees the possibility to work, study, directly participate in religious services, as well as enjoy cultural and educational activities, develop physical culture and sports, the NPM's experience shows that these types of activities are realised very rarely. For example, in one of the units visited, an inmate with “N” status did not benefit from a walk for a year and a half, although he claimed to have expressed his wish to do so; the unit’s records showed that this detainee had not gone for a walk for the entire period prior to the NPM's visit. According to the NPM, this state of affairs is due to the need to take more precautions, more Prison Service officers and to stop the traffic in the ward where this inmate
is detained, which, combined with staff shortages in the Prison Service, has this exact effect. | Report details |