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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 is dedicated to establish new methods and treatments concerning inmates placed in specialized care units and quarters. In order to learn more about the possible good practices, we would like to ask you to let us know about your solutions. The questions are concerning sexual abuse between detainees in the prison institutions.
If there are signs or indications of violent or sexually assaulting behaviour among inmates, the persons concerned are separated immediately from each other (different floors, departments or even change to another prison).
What methods are used to detect sexual abuse within the prison institutions?There are no specific methods, generally the inmates themselves, through discussions with the specialized services (social workers, psychologists, doctors, etc.), or judicial officers inform the prison staff.
Is there a special treatment method for perpetrators of sexual violence within the prison institution? If so, what treatment methods are used?There are no specific treatments available for sex offenders who have set the crime inside the prison. As for other sex offenders, clinical psychologists or psychotherapists provide crime-specific treatment in individual or group settings.
Are special security and treatment protocols applied to perpetrators of sexual violence within the prison institution? If so, which ones?Personal security notes about inmates are entered in a database according to necessity. This information is accessible to prison staff as needed. There are standardised notes and, if necessary, concrete guidelines for action in individual cases (separation of certain inmates, strength of guarding, etc.).
Is there a therapeutic group for inmates who have been victims of sexual violence within prison institutions? If so, what techniques are used?There are no therapeutic groups specifically for inmates who have been victims of sexual violence inside prisons. All inmates shall receive the treatment or therapy they need.
Each newly arrived prisoner was informed during the admission phase in an introductory interview that in any case he or she could turn to a pedagogue - the case manager, a psychologist, as well as any of the other prison staff. Prisoners are especially aware of the fact that in Slovenian Prison Administration no form of violence is tolerated and that any type of violence needs to be reported. Persons who are found to be disturbing in any way to other inmates shall be accommodated separately from the rest of the prison population. A prisoner who feels threatened by another prisoner may also be accommodated separately. In cases where it is determined that relocation within one location will not satisfactorily resolve the tension and that it would make sense to relocate a prisoner to another prison facility, this is also done. As a rule, those prisoners who threatens are transferred first, and only latter those who are at risk. In the cases of sexual abuse, there is a possibility that the abused person (victim) will not report the act due to shame, fear or some other cause. Prison officers and other prison staff are therefore alert to any changes in the behaviour of prisoners. In cases where a prison worker observes changes in behaviour, the prisoner is interviewed in a discreet manner, where he or she is asked about the reasons for the observed changes in behaviour. In cases where any kind of violence or sexual violence is found out, immediate action is taken, the victim is protected and the perpetrator is prosecuted.
What methods are used to detect sexual abuse within the prison institutions?In the basic training for prison officers, one of the emphases is on ability to recognize the most common signs that indicate the presence of violence, as such as: - unusual or uncommon changes not previously detected about the prisoner, - the prisoner closes in on himself, - avoidance of other prisoners or individuals, - avoiding socializing with prisoners in a multipurpose space, - staying alone in the room, - does not go outside to walking area, - showing other forms of inhibition and timidity, - less communicativeness, - requests the relocation to another room or department without giving any justified reasons or explanations, - non-return or delay from the benefit of free exit, especially after long time without abuse - smuggling or attempted smuggling of certain items, - sudden increase in the demand for medicines at the institution's doctor - especially demands of sedatives, but has not previously taken or without any prior medical problems, - false donation and lending of personal belongings (jackets, watches, money, cigarettes …), - increased canteen purchases - purchases of goods and items not otherwise used, - unusual cash withdrawals (especially for people with a steady source of income outside of prison), - meaningless requests for interviews, - covering bruises or injuries (for example using shaving foam). It is especially difficult to detect violence that takes place in multi-bed rooms, where the victim is one and few perpetrators. In such environments, it is necessary to be vigilant also to the following: - fear or forced helpfulness of someone, - minor injuries, even invisible (pain at work, walking), - more frequent than usual cell cleaning by one person, - always only one person that takes over the food, - use of personal belongings by other persons, - someone does not take part in joint activities (on the yard outside ...), - if involved, seek the proximity of a prison officer or other prison staff, - in the case of petty harassment in the cell (pouring water, moving furniture), the victim is mostly alone - leader in the cell always chooses the best: the location of the bed, a large closet, the best view on TV …, - always same people take over the cleaning material, - victims forces out medical examinations (to keep them in the room as little as possible), - while person who is victim is in the room, he is looking for any activities to leave the room. In the case that we find out that sexual violence is being committed against someone, we announce a suspicion of committing such crime to the Police.
Is there a special treatment method for perpetrators of sexual violence within the prison institution? If so, what treatment methods are used?We do not have special forms of treatment for perpetrators of sexual violence in prison. As a rule, such detainees are housed in single cells in a specially secured or stricter regime. They can engage in psychological treatment that is usually individual and tailored to someone`s needs. In cases where they show adequate progress and are found to be no longer a threat to anyone, they can return to the rest of prison population.
Are special security and treatment protocols applied to perpetrators of sexual violence within the prison institution? If so, which ones?We do not have any special protocols in the Slovenian prison system that would be intended only for perpetrators of sexual violence within the prison.
Is there a therapeutic group for inmates who have been victims of sexual violence within prison institutions? If so, what techniques are used?Due to the fact that Slovenia has a relatively small population of prisoners compared to Hungary, incidents of sexual violence in prison are relatively rare. In cases where sexual violence has been identified, the victim is offered psychological treatment, recovery from the traumatic event and rehabilitation. So far, we have not carried out group work/counselling with the victims of such events.