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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 Norwegian Correctional Service conducts a review of the practice of using a restraining beds/ bed with belts and examines the possibility of abolishing this as a security measure in Norwegian prisons. Practice is reviewed as a result of criticism from the Ombudsman. Analyzes made of the use of restraining beds/ bed with belts show that the measure is used against prisoners who injure themselves and attempt to commit suicide. Identification of adequate alternative measures that can be used is an important part of the report. Information about practice in other countries will be interesting for further work on the issue.
Yes. In very limited and specific cases.
What laws, rules or regulations apply to their use?It is regulated at Law level, only when there are no other possible means, during limited time and under judicial control and medical supervision.
If restraining beds / beds with belt are not used, what measures are used instead? How do you handle inmates who hurt/ harm themselves (suicidal inmates)?Observation, therapie, prohibition of being alone are some of measures usually adopted.
No, we do not use this method of restraint in NI Prisons
What laws, rules or regulations apply to their use?N/A
If restraining beds / beds with belt are not used, what measures are used instead?In extreme cases we can use fast wraps or mechanical restraints to restrain someone for their own safety or the safety of others. Their use is a last resort and will only be used with approval from a Governor.
How do you handle inmates who hurt/ harm themselves (suicidal inmates)?We have introduced a new approach “Supporting People at Risk Evolution” (SPAR Evo). This has had facilitated a significant reduction in the instances of self-harm across the service. This is a person centred approach that is aimed at supporting people through a period of crisis or distress and trying to address the root cause of the issue. We have safer cells and safer clothing/bedding that may be considered where someone is determined to be at risk of suicde or serious self-harm, but there is no default to these measures. Each case is considered based on its merits and the needs of the individual. Our use of safer cells and safer clothing/bedding has also reduced since introducing SPAR Evo.
Yes
What laws, rules or regulations apply to their use?Only a doctor can take a decision to use fixation (beginning and end).
If restraining beds / beds with belt are not used, what measures are used instead? How do you handle inmates who hurt/ harm themselves (suicidal inmates)?They can be fixated pursuant to the decision of a doctor.
Yes
What laws, rules or regulations apply to their use?The Guidelines on Guard and Security of the Penitentiary Establishments, approved on 1 April 2020 by the Order No. V-88 of the Director General of the Prison Department
If restraining beds / beds with belt are not used, what measures are used instead?Handcuffs may be used in specific cases
How do you handle inmates who hurt/ harm themselves (suicidal inmates)?They are under continuous supervision and handcuffs may be used, if necessary
Restraining beds/beds with belt are not used in prisons of the Latvian Prison Administration and the Latvian Prison Hospital. Section 23 of the Prisons Administration Law (hereinafter – Law) regulates the right of an official to use physical force, special combat methods and special means. Part 1 Section 23 of the aforementioned Law states that an official has the right to use physical force, special combat methods and special means in an imprisonment place, as well as when transferring a prisoner to a medical treatment institution outside the imprisonment place or guarding a prisoner in the medical treatment institution outside the imprisonment place in order to: 1) repel an attack on oneself or other persons; 2) repel an attack on buildings, premises, structures and transport equipment or to clear forcibly occupied objects; 3) free hostages; 4) prevent civil disorders; 5) detain a person who does not submit to or resists the official, may run away or cause harm to himself or herself and other persons (if there is a reason to believe so); 6) stop an escape attempt of detained or sentenced persons. Part 2 Section 23 of the Law states that an official is prohibited from using special combat methods and special means (except handcuffs) against women, minors and disabled persons with obvious signs of disability except in cases when such persons participate in a group attack, endanger the lives or health of the official, employee or other persons, or show armed resistance. The Cabinet Regulation No.283 “Procedure According to which the Officials of the Latvian Prison Administration Use Special Means” dated 9 June 2015 determines the types of special means and the procedure according to which the Latvian Prison Administration official with a special rank uses them.
What laws, rules or regulations apply to their use?N/A
If restraining beds / beds with belt are not used, what measures are used instead?Latvian imprisonment places follow Part 6 Section 69.1 of the Medical Treatment Law, i.e., in cases, when there are direct threats that a patient due to psychic disorders may commit injuries to himself or herself or other persons or a patient demonstrates violence towards other persons and attempts to discontinue threat by verbal convincing have failed, the following confining means may be used in psychiatric medical institutions: 1) physical confinement by using physical force for confinement of movements of the patient; 2) mechanical confinement by using mechanical cords or belts; 3) injection of medicines to a patient against his or her will; 4) placement in a monitoring ward.
How do you handle inmates who hurt/ harm themselves (suicidal inmates)?A working group is established in the prison to prevent the suicidal behaviour of prisoners. The group members are the Head of Resocialisation department, Head of Monitoring department, a doctor psychiatrist, a psychologist and the Head of Safety department. The working group investigates the prisoner and draws up a monitoring plan. In the acute phase (first seven days) tests are performed at least 1x30min. In the early stage (second-fourth week) 1x60min. At a remote stage (from the fifth week) 1x120min. Monitoring at all stages is carried out by prison guards. The Latvian Prison Administration central office and imprisonment places’ action procedure for work with prisoners who cause harm for himself/herself (prisoners prone to suicide) is stated by the Guidelines for the Prison Administration and prisons on prevention of suicidal behaviour (put into practice since year 2016 and available in English on the EuroPris website). Currently, the Guidelines are being improved by introducing a new tool for assessing the risk of suicidal behaviour and activities for the prevention of suicidal behaviour (the resocialisation program for prisoners with a high and medium risk of suicidal behaviour is being improved). Of course, for all prisoners, the security and threat risks and the need for special means are regularly assessed in the prison for a certain case.
Yes, if the inmate does not control his/her behaviour (he/she can endanger one´s life, health or health and life of other persons by his/her incontrollable behaviour), prison officers is incompliance with § 37 of the Act no. 4/2001 Coll. on the Corps of Prison and Court Guard entitled to use the restraint belts – i.e. fasten such an inmate to the “restraining bed”. The restrained inmate must be under control of a prison officer all the time when the restraint belts are used. When tightening the belts, prison officers must take care that the blood circulation of the fastened person is not disrupted.
What laws, rules or regulations apply to their use?See the answer above.
If restraining beds / beds with belt are not used, what measures are used instead?However, the Corps of Prison and Court Guard has started with a gradual introduction of a more human and more effective alternative of the restraining belts – at the moment already on third of the prison facilities in Slovakia disposes of the so-called compensation room (a room without any furniture, internal walls and doors are secured by a soft and easily cleanable material resistant to any mechanical damage; all edges and corners of the room are usually round and secured by a soft material so that the inmate does not cause any harm to himself/herself during the incontrollable behaviour). If an inmate who cannot control one´s behaviour is placed to the compensation room, the physical contact of the intervening prison officers with the inmate is minimised, the risk of possible health consequences caused by fastening and unfastening of the belts is eliminated as well as the possible risk of injury of the intervening prison staff or other persons. Physical control is in this case replaced by a contactless monitoring via a security camera or through a door sight hole. The inmate in the compensation room is provided an expert intervention (psychologist, doctor, psychiatrist) immediately after the symptoms have subsided and after entering into a verbal contact and subsequently he/she is accommodated in a cell or room. The time spent in the compensation room must not exceed 8 hours, only in extraordinary cases, mainly when the incontrollable behaviour repeats also despite the expert intervention, the placement can last longer, maximum is 24 hours. If neither the time spent in the compensation room nor any expert interventions manage to compensate the incontrollable behaviour, the inmate is transferred to the prison hospital.
How do you handle inmates who hurt/ harm themselves (suicidal inmates)?The Corps within its internal procedures regulates the way and forms of an effective treatment of the risk group of inmates to whom the prison staff has detected an increased self-harm risk or suicidal acting. Such inmates are included to three risk groups with the subsequent special treatment form by an increased surveillance or monitoring. The monitoring of inmates in the most risk group means a continuous control of movement and their activities in cells or rooms equipped by cameras. Of course, apart from the surveillance or monitoring a group of experts (psychologist, psychiatrist, case manager, social worker) works with the risk inmates.
Restraining beds with straps are used only as a strictly exceptional measure. The Secretariat of Criminal Sanctions, Rehabilitation and Victim Support issued the Circular 2/2007 regulating the mechanical restraint procedure, establishes that this measure entails that the person is placed on a bed with a matress with subjection straps specific to ensure his/her immobilization. The integrity of the person shall be guaranteed and any forced or degrading positions are explicitly forbidden. The maximum confort compatible with the immobilisation goals should be ensured. The straps are made of textile material like those used in psychiatric settings.
What laws, rules or regulations apply to their use?The use of coercive means in prison is regulated by art. 45 of the Organic Penitentiary Law 1/1979, and by arts. 71 and 72 of the Royal Decree 190/1996 which enacts the Prison Regulations. According to art. 71 of the Prison Regulations, in any case only the less harmful measures will have to be adopted according to the principles of necessity and proportionality. The almost complete restriction of movements will only be adopted when there is no less harmful measure to achieve the specific safety goal and only for the minimum time strictly needed. Art. 72.3 of the Prison Regulations establishes that when an immobilisation measure needs to be adopted, it is compulsory to inform the Prison Surveillance Judge indicating the beginning and the end of the immobilisation. In particular, in Catalonia, Circular 2/2007 regulating the mechanical restraint procedure, describes in detail how and in which circumstances the different means of restraint shall be used and applied properly. The mechanical restraint can be applied with two different approaches: 1) as a health safety measure and in such case only a psychiatrist or doctor can authorise it 2) as a coercive measure and then it can only be authorised by the prison director. When mechanical restraint on a bed is applied, the inmate shall be intensively and closely supervised by health care staff during the time the restraint lasts. The drafting and approval of Circular 2/2007 is the result of a process of evaluation made by the Secretariat on its own practice on the matter, as well as of the recommendations about the use of restraints in prison by national and international organisations in the field of criminal justice, prison and human rights.
If restraining beds / beds with belt are not used, what measures are used instead?There is a range of possible interventions depending on the degree of self-harm. The gradation of interventions are foreseen in Annex 1 of the Suicide Prevention Programme (attached).
How do you handle inmates who hurt/ harm themselves (suicidal inmates)?The Secretariat introduced the specific Suicide Prevention Programme in Catalan prisons. Every member of the prison staff who can be in contact with inmates, has been trained on this programme. Anyone can identify an inmate with a possible risk of suicide by any means and in such case, the risk will be evaluated by the appropriate professionals as low, moderate or high. For each different risk level, different observation, support and safety means are activated. Such means of observation, support and safety are reviewed regularly by the health care staff of the prison. The protocol remains activated for 12 months. The underpinning principle of the programme is that all types of professionals working in the prison shall have a receptive and open approach in order to be alert of any sign or suicide risk possibility and shall work in a coordinated manner in the framework of the protocol. The programme describes 3 different key moments for risk detection: 1) systematic detection at the intake of the newly arrived inmate; 2) spontaneous detection along the time spent in prison for unexpected circumstances 3) during transfers between prisons where reinforced attention shall be paid to communication and coordination with regard to the medical record. Detection entails to be able to identify risk factors, turning points, warning signals and the protective factors of the suicidal behaviour. When there is any suspicion of risk of suicide, it will be reported to the so called Services Director of the prison who will inform the Director of the prison and the Health Care Service. The Health Care Service will activate the measures to be undertaken. Security, Health and Rehabilitation professionals are involved in early detection, management and monitoring of the risk of suicide. If there is an attempted suicide or a high risk of suicide, a proactive longitudinal monitoring over the course of 12 months will be applied. Such monitoring includes appointments with primary health care staff, monitoring by mental health staff tailored to the case, observation by the prison psychologists, social workers, educators as well as by security staff. All the information will be recorded in the data base. Any changes on the risk level will be reported by health care services to the prison high officials. At the same time, when self-harm occurs, the inmate can be included in a psychoeducative programme called Programa N’VIU that aims at providing the individual with the necessary skills to manage his/her behaviour. It is conducted in groups for the prevention of self-harm behaviour in prisons. It is based on the responsiveness and skills model. It consists of 12 sessions of 1,5h each and at least one session per week is delivered.
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We do not use bed restraints
What laws, rules or regulations apply to their use?N/A
If restraining beds / beds with belt are not used, what measures are used instead?A Body Belt is only used in extreme circumstances when all other options have failed or are considered unsafe. They are used to prevent a violent or refractory prisoner engaging in life-threatening behaviour, either towards another person or him or herself. Every effort must be made to avoid the use of a Body Belt and the option to use Special Accommodation must be considered first. Its use must be a last resort, when other methods (calming and de-escalation techniques, use of Special Accommodation, etc) have been tried and have failed. Calming and de-escalation techniques must always be employed when a Body Belt is used and the prisoner must be constantly observed by a member of staff in close proximity (face to face) and never by CCTV.A Body Belt must not be used as a punishment or on a prisoner under the age of 18. Before, during and after the application of the Body Belt, all possible steps must be taken to preserve the prisoner’s dignity. Any person that does not need to be in the vicinity of the prisoner must be moved away. The prisoner must be spoken to calmly and respectfully at all time. Any prisoner who is placed in a Body Belt must be taken out of it as soon as the reasons for its use no longer exist. Body Belts must be obtained from an authorised provider.
How do you handle inmates who hurt/ harm themselves (suicidal inmates)?If a prison resident has self-harmed, attempted suicide, or prison staff believe they are at heightened risk of self-harm or suicide, they are supported through a case management approach called Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT). The purpose of an ACCT is to identify an individual’s risks, triggers and protective factors and to put in place a care plan to provide individual, person-focused support to address issues and reduce risk. As well as support actions tailored for the person, this involves observations and meaningful conversations, set at unpredictable intervals, depending on the person’s needs. Observations are checks that the person is safe, and meaningful conversations with staff give the person requiring support the opportunity to talk and raise any issues, and allow staff to gain a fuller picture of how well the person is responding to support. When an ACCT is first opened, the immediate priority is to take steps to ensure that any immediate risk of harm to that person is mitigated (e.g. by moving cells/rooms, removing items or medication, instating levels of observations and conversations). ACCT is a multidisciplinary case management approach, and involves a range of staff from across the prison (for example operational, healthcare, mental health, education, employment, or chaplaincy staff), depending on the person’s needs. The person requiring support is directly involved in the planning of their support, and is invited to case reviews. External agencies, and families or loved ones may also be invited to case reviews, depending on the individual. Case reviews happen periodically until the ACCT is closed, and urgent case reviews take place if there is a concerning raise in risk. ACCTs are only closed when all of the support actions have been completed, and the multidisciplinary team agree it is appropriate to close the ACCT as the risk has reduced for the person requiring support.
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