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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: Until recently, the Catalan prison administration would apply mechanical restraints in those extreme cases in which the inmate’s state or behaviour poses a serious risk to his safety or that of others. As described in previous KMS-111218: Mechanical fixations for the immobilisation of inmates in prisons and KMS-010321: Prevention of self-harm and the behaviour of harm to someone else in Crisis, the application of this measure is thoroughly regulated by the Prison Regulations and a specific circular which describes in detail the procedure, the authorisation, the length of the measure and the close supervision of the inmate conducted by prison and health staff. This is also accompanied by CCTV and intercom system so that the inmate and the staff can communicate at any time. With the aim of suppressing the use of the restraining bed, our administration is drafting a circular on mechanical restraints in order to update this matter to the current international standards. In this new regulation, padded cells will replace the use of the restraining bed measure. We would also like to learn more about the procedure for transferring the inmate into these cells, the duration of the stay and how different aspects are foreseen.
The compensation rooms were defined in the legal regulations of the conditions for the pre-trial detention and the prison sentence execution in 2006 as follows: The compensation room is a room specially adjusted so that the inmate cannot cause himself any bodily harm. The inmate shall be placed to the compensation room until the termination of signs of his uncontrollable behaviour that could endanger his own life, health or life and health of another person. This room is not intended for accommodation of inmates; stipulations of equipment of a standard room or cell shall not apply to the equipment of compensation room. The compensation room must be up to standard for artificial lighting, heat-humidity micro-climate and heating. The compensation rooms can be equipped by a camera system for the purpose of protection of life and health. The prison governor according to recommendation of the doctor shall decide about placement of an inmate to a compensation room. At present, the compensation rooms are established in eight prison facilities (establishment of the compensation rooms in the remaining ten prison facilities is one of the conceptual intentions of our prison system). The internal regulation determines the general definition supplemented by construction-technical characteristics (please see the answers to the questions below) and a maximum period of the placement in the compensation room that shall not last more than eight hours (only in extraordinary cases, especially when uncontrollable action repeats in spite of the use of professional intervention, the placement may last longer, but a maximum of 24 hours).
What materials are these cells made of and is the material applied to the cell floor, walls and ceilings?The floor in the compensation room must be secured by waterproof isolation with the surface sloping into the canalization drain. The wear layer of the floor is a soft, easily cleanable material resistant to mechanical damage in a minimum thickness of 15 mm. The walls are secured with a soft, easily cleanable material resistant to mechanical damage up to the height of the ceiling. All edges and and corners are usually rounded and secured by a soft material. The ceiling of the compensation room is not covered with a soft material.
Do these cells have windows, switch, lighting, fire protection, loudspeaker system, intercom system?The lighting in the compensation room is ensured with a lamp of the type “Antivandal” and it is controlled from the outside of the compensation room. All electricity distribution inside the compensation room is led under the plastering. The compensation room is usually equipped with an internal communication device and a security camera of the waterproof type “Antivandal”. The compensation room may be equipped with an analogue (fire) detector. The devices in the compensation room are installed in a way to prevent their damage by a person placed in the compensation room and may be connected-up e.g. to the operation center of the prison.
Is there any air-conditioning or heating renovation done? If yes, how?The compensation room that is established in a heated building, does not have to be equipped with heating. If the compensation room is equipped with the heating, it is usually built-in (floor, wall, ceiling). The heating control is placed outside of the compensation room. The ventilation is ensured by air-conditioning or natural ventilation using a window. The air-conditioning hole is located as close as possible to the ceiling and it is secured by an internal security grating with a density preventing from handhold. If a window is used, it is usually located so that its bottom edge was not lower than two meters. The window is usually the tilting one. It is secured from the outside with bars and an inner lining with the security grating with a density preventing from handhold. The glass filling is secured by a security foil against breakage.
How are these cells cleaned? Do you use any special products?In front of the compensation room, there is placed a water supply with a plug valve secured by thread for connection of a hose that is used for cleaning the compensation room with a water stream.
How do you repair damaged padded surfaces? What type of maintenance do these soft materials require? How do the materials react to fire?The materials used do not need any special maintenance.
Design-wise, do these cells include a TV-set inside, a bathroom and/or a bed?No, the compensation rooms are not intended for accommodation of inmates. They are intended only for their short-term placement until the termination of signs of their uncontrollable behaviour.
What are the protocols for transferring and placing an inmate into these cells? E.g. very aggressive inmates? Do you use handcuffs? How long can an inmate be placed in a padded cell? How do you solve the inmate’s physiological needs? How do you organize tThe inmate who puts active resistance, endangers the life or health of other person, may be shackled during the transfer for placement to the compensation room. A maximum allowed period of the placement in the compensation room is mentioned in the answer to question no.1. The compensation room may be equipped with a squat toilet set-in into the floor.
Do you use the padded cell instead of the restraining bed or you use both measures but for different type of cases?In prisons where the compensation room is established, only the compensation room shall be used for the termination of uncontrollable behavior of an inmate who by these actions endangers his life, health or health of other person.
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The cell was built in 2016. Regarding the photo please write an e-mail to [email protected]
What materials are these cells made of and is the material applied to the cell floor, walls and ceilings?The cell cover is made of veneer base, porolone filling and vinyl surface. This material is applied on both the cell walls and floor.
Do these cells have windows, switch, lighting, fire protection, loudspeaker system, intercom system?The cell has a window and artificial lighting on the ceiling (switches on from the corridor). The cell is equipped with a video surveillance camera.
Is there any air-conditioning or heating renovation done? If yes, how?There is no air-conditioning. Heating elements are built into the cell floor. The cell has an artificial ventilation.
How are these cells cleaned? Do you use any special products?This cell is cleaned like other premises, no specific products are used.
How do you repair damaged padded surfaces? What type of maintenance do these soft materials require? How do the materials react to fire?No repair works have been done. The material is non-combustible. If any repair work is necessary, the whole panel will be changed.
Design-wise, do these cells include a TV-set inside, a bathroom and/or a bed?There is no bed, bathroom or TV-set in the cell.
What are the protocols for transferring and placing an inmate into these cells? E.g. very aggressive inmates? Do you use handcuffs? How long can an inmate be placed in a padded cell? How do you solve the inmate’s physiological needs? How do you organize tAn inmate is placed in the padded cell for up to 2 hours only to calm down. The decision on placing an inmate in the cell is made by assessing the specific situation. There are no padded cells in Latvian prisons, except Olaine prison (the Latvian Prison Hospital). There is a padded cell with soft cover in Olaine prison (the Center of Addicts).
Do you use the padded cell instead of the restraining bed or you use both measures but for different type of cases?In Latvian prisons the padded cell is not used instead of the restraining bed.
In the prison system of the Republic of Croatia, these kind of cells were built some 30 years ago, and are used to carry out a special measure of maintaining order and security - accommodation in a specially secured cell without dangerous objects.
What materials are these cells made of and is the material applied to the cell floor, walls and ceilings?These cells are made of soft fireproof materials applied to the cell floor, walls and ceilings.
Do these cells have windows, switch, lighting, fire protection, loudspeaker system, intercom system?There is a small window for visual surveillance on the door, and the whole cell is covered by video surveillance. Also, the cells have an alarm system, while some have a fire protection system.
Is there any air-conditioning or heating renovation done? If yes, how?A cell heating or cooling system is installed, depending on the season.
How are these cells cleaned? Do you use any special products?These cells are cleaned regularly, appropriate to the material they are coated with.
How do you repair damaged padded surfaces? What type of maintenance do these soft materials require? How do the materials react to fire?Soft fireproof materials are harder to damage because they are taut, flat and seamless. In case of damage, the damaged part is replaced. The fire resistance of the material is customary.
Design-wise, do these cells include a TV-set inside, a bathroom and/or a bed?No, these cells are empty.
What are the protocols for transferring and placing an inmate into these cells? E.g. very aggressive inmates? Do you use handcuffs? How long can an inmate be placed in a padded cell? How do you solve the inmate’s physiological needs? How do you organize tIn accordance with the Law on the execution of imprisonment, aggressive and autoaggressive inmates are housed in these cells, for a maximum of 48 hours at a time (although in practice, the duration of this measure is usually 3 to 6 hours) and under the supervision of a doctor at least once in 24 hours. The inmates are taken out of the cells for physiological needs only.
Do you use the padded cell instead of the restraining bed or you use both measures but for different type of cases?In addition to accommodation in these cells, mechanical restraining of arms and/or legs can also be applied in extreme cases in which the inmates state or behaviour poses a serious risk to his safety, or safety of others.