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Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
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Introduction: The Hungarian Prison Service would like to get to know the practices and methods followed by its foreign partners regarding night shifts in penitentiary institutions. They ask you to fill out the questionnaire below with some detailed information if possible.
Prisoners are checked during the night by members of staff who look into each cell through an observation flap at designated times. Some cells which house prisoners who are at risk have 24 hr cctv coverage for observation and to ensure the prisoners safety
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?Yes
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?Prisoners have a call bell in their cell which can be used to alert staff at night or in the event of a fire each cell has a smoke detector and a sprinkler fitted.
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?This can be by means of radio or telephone
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
During night time the prison cells, where the inmates normally spend the night alone, are normally not checked. However, if the risk assessment of the inmate indicates that supervision in the prison cell during night time is necessary due to a risk of self inflicted injury, there are different levels of control. In these situations staff at certain given times, or all of the time depending on the situation, supervises the inmates in the prison cell, either through a gap in the door or via camera or a window in specially equipped prison cells.
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?As stated above the prison cells, where the inmates spend the nights, are normally not checked during night time. But staff regularly checks the corridors where the prison cells are located.
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?Either the inmates themselves contact the staff, or in situations mentioned above in section 1. the staff become aware of such events in connection with the supervision.
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?Through radio communication, telephone or if the situation is evaluated as acute, alarm buttons.
During the night the guardians on post duty execute periodic checks of the corridors of the groups and via the eyelets of the doors. The staff watches for all suspicious noises and the behavior of inmates in the prison cells.
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?The guardians on post duty execute checks several times on a schedule as well as sudden checks. Groups of guards are formed when executing inspections and personal searches.
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?In some cells there are installations for informing staff for unforeseen events and incidents. In the other cells, where there aren’t such installations, when an incident happens, inmates send a signal via clattering on the door and verbal informing.
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?For unforeseen events and incidents, staff immediately informs by phone their superiors and after that the information on the case is provided in writing.
Regular night time checks are conducted by the night time staff, frequency is determined by the status of the prisoner. All prison cells are fitted with an emergency call button, staff give priority to such calls and respond as a matter of urgency. Special arrangements are in place for prisoners who are identified as being at risk, whereby they are placed in a Special Observation Cell or Close Supervision Cell, such prisoners are checked at 15 minute intervals
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?Night guards are detailed for duty from 8 pm to 8 am at all prisons, the number of night guards is dependent on the number and status of the prisoners, the level of security required and the regime in place in the prison. In Ireland there are eleven closed medium risk prisons and two low risk open centres.
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?The night guard brings the event or accident to the attention of the Assistant Chief Officer in Charge who makes contact with the Prison Governor. The Governor informs the Director of Operations, the Deputy Director and the Operations Governor at Irish Prison Service HQ,
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?Internally via Tetra Radio. Externally via telephone and email.
Regular patrols are completed by staff during the night on residential units. If prisoners require enhanced support, checks are made by observing the prisoner via an observational panel in the cell door. Roll checks are also completed during the night period.
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?Yes
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?Cells are equipped with an emergency cell bell system, which allows a prisoner to alert staff if they need assistance. Staff will also inform the night orderly officer if there is an issue or accident to which they need to respond.
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?Emergencies can be communicated via telephone or the radio system. Incidents are also recorded in an incident log, which is shared with managers the next day.
Once per hour prison officer carries out post/cell inspection, checks that prisoners are in their cells, visually checks the condition of cell doors, locks and bars (without entering cell).
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?Please see answer to the 1st question.
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?If during their rounds prison officers have not become aware of an unforeseen event or an accident in post/cell, prisoners can inform prison officer by pressing an alarm button in their cell or by alerting the prison officer personally.
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?If there is an unforeseen event or an accident in post/cell, prison officer immediately informs the Assistant of the Head of the prison on duty, who clarifies the situation and deploys all the available personnel and organizes medical help for the injured accordingly.
During the night shift inmates and pre-trial detainees are checked on regular basis through the watching window in the cell door. Inmates accommodated in dormitory type cells have surveillance cameras in the corridors, prison officers check and calculate inmates by physically visiting cells on regular basis.
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?Yes
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?Senior specialist, acting as an assistant on duty, informs by phone the officer in charge
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?The procedure of communicating the information about the event to the superiors is strictly regulated
During night prison cells are normally not checked. If a cell is checked during night this will be done due to a special reason and the method of the check will also depend on that reason.
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?Inmates are checked by the regular staff and by units with sniffer dogs.
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?The staff will during night normally be aware of unforeseen events or accidents by calls/noise from the inmate or – if there is an special concern for an inmate – by supervision visits.
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?The staff will contact the duty officer who will inform internally and/or the police according to the situation.
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In closed prisons, the wards are checked by going around the ward corridors with cell doors closed. The inmates have always the opportunity to talk to the staff in the control room through radio or use the emergency light to signal that they need assistance or help with something. The ward is monitored 24/7 through cameras that are situated in the corridors of the ward. In open prisons, the wards are checked, if necessary, by checking on the inmates in the ward.
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?In closed prisons, the staff regularly checks on the inmates by visiting the wards. The time of the inspection of the ward can vary, but should be carried out every half-an-hour or every hour.
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?Generally the inmate alerts the staff of the accident or then unprecedented noise, smoke or alerts by other inmates catch the attention of the staff and the situation is inspected.
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?The staff reports any unforeseen events or accidents to their superiors by phone, through a walkie-talkie or by reporting it to them face-to-face. The supervisors then make the decision regarding possible further measures. The Criminal Sanctions Agency has written out a set of instructions to support the operational actions of the prisons during demanding situations such as accidents and unforeseen events.
The rooms in which prisoners are accommodated are checked through regular visits of the Security staff through the cell door openings. Rooms in which special orders and security measures are taken - accommodation in a secured room without any dangerous things- are equipped with video surveillance.
Do you use regular patrols to check on the inmates?Regular guarding of detention facilities is used at least every hour and, if necessary, more frequently depending on the degree of risk of prisoners in the cells.
In case of an unforseen event or accident in the cell, how do you become aware of such an event?Incidents are being discovered by the opservation of the Security staff when visiting prison departments and by the prisoners themselves.
How do you communicate this event to your superiors?The superiors are informed about the cases of incidents by the means of communication or by the telephone.
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