PRE-DEPORTATION DETENTION FACILITIES concerned are visible in outline. Staff can recognise and prevent suicidal acts. Commission got the impression that it would be important for all the staff in the medical section who come into contact with detainees awaiting deportation to do this training so that they are sensitised to the specific problems arising in this area. The social worker who generally holds the initial meeting also felt it would make sense for him to take a training course on traumatisation. Response: The service centre of the Hesse prison system, H.B. Wagnitz-Seminar, will enquire whether there is any need to run a training course in regard to traumatisation. If staff express an interest in the topic, the course will be offered and a suitable speaker found. 1.9.2 – Recommendations of the Joint Commission and response of the Ministry of Justice of Hesse It turned out during the meeting with the doctor working in the medical section that communication problems have in the past often arisen with detainees awaiting deportation during the initial medical examination. Where necessary, another detainee was brought in to act as interpreter or in rare cases a professional interpreter was called in. In some cases no communication whatsoever had been possible with the person concerned. In the Joint Commission’s opinion this is unsatisfactory. Involving another detainee during the medical examination breaks the relationship of trust between the doctor and patient. The other detainee is not bound to medical secrecy. Personal or even intimate discussions about physical problems or mental issues cannot thus take place. Further, being able to communicate with the detainee awaiting deportation appears indispensable when it comes to diagnosing mental illnesses such as traumatisation. The Joint Commission recommends bringing in a professional interpreter during the initial medical examination whenever communication problems arise. Response: Detainees awaiting deportation must be given a medical examination as soon as possible, i.e. generally one or two days after admission. Carrying out this examination as quickly as possible is especially important given the possible health consequences associated with its delay (e.g. unknown predispositions, illnesses, risk of infection for other detainees or staff, risk of self-harm). Practical experience shows that on account of the diversity of languages and dialects which the detainees awaiting deportation speak, finding a suitable professional interpreter is sometimes very difficult and time-consuming. In order to avoid delaying the medical examination, detainees are asked whether they will agree to another detainee being brought in to interpret or whether they wish a professional interpreter to be brought in. This method of procedure is also accepted and welcomed by detainees; no complaints have yet been raised against this procedure. Since the detainees awaiting deportation are instructed about the fact that it is possible to bring in a professional interpreter at any time, it is left up to each detainee to decide of their own accord whether they wish to use another detainee to interpret for them. As well as being responsible for detainees awaiting deportation, the doctors in the facility also look after the prisoners. According to the facility, so far only one of the doctors at Frankfurt I Prison has undergone any training in regard to traumatisation. The Joint 1.9.3 – Further suggestions by the Joint Commission for improving the conditions of detention and response of the Ministry of Justice of Hesse So far the prison house rules have also applied accordingly to those in custody pending deportation. The facility informed the Joint Commission that house rules were being drawn up specifically for those in custody pending deportation. These should be translated into those languages most commonly spoken by detainees awaiting deportation. Response: According to the director of Frankfurt I Prison, after the house rules for those in custody pending deportation have been drawn up they will be translated into the languages most commonly spoken by detainees awaiting deportation. 1.10 – HESSE RECEPTION CENTRE FOR REFUGEES IN GIESSEN – FRANKFURT AIRPORT BRANCH The Joint Commission visited the Frankfurt Airport Branch of the Hesse Reception Centre for Refugees in Gießen together with the Federal Agency on 5 December 2013. The Airport Branch is responsible for accommodating refugees who, in accordance with section 18a of the Asylum Procedure Act, are held in the airport transit area whilst their asylum application is being processed. It is also used to accommodate those who have been denied entry up until such time as they are returned home. The facility can accommodate 100 people in 25 rooms. At the time of the inspection visit it was accommodating 38 people (27 men and 11 women). The facility did not notify the Joint Commission of how many minors were present, although it noted at least one child who was being accommodated there together with its family. The average duration of stay over the past three years was nine days. The Federal Agency and the Joint Commission first inspected the detention rooms at Frankfurt am Main 66