CAT/C/39/2 page 21 alleged that clothing and other items brought by relatives for inmates are taken by the prison staff who themselves sell these items to the inmates or others. There were also complaints with respect to restrictions on items inmates may receive from their relatives, in particular restrictions on fruit, other food products and toiletries. 70. The NGOs told the Committee members that in most places of detention there are no full records, either to indicate when detainees enter or exit the centres or with respect to medical information of any sort including when injuries occur. NGOs also reported that records of staff performance, training and hiring, as well as disciplinary histories are also often missing or do not exist. 71. There were also generalized complaints regarding the difficulties encountered by NGOs monitoring detention centres and in making formal complaints. Many NGOs alleged that they had been denied access to various centres of detention on many occasions often with no reason being provided. 72. It was reported that State public defenders are paid poorly and have excessive workloads. Their numbers are low and insufficient to cover the existing demands. Furthermore, the Committee members were told that there is a general perception that public defenders are not very highly regarded and that their work is seen as an employment of last resort. Under these conditions, it is difficult for public defenders to remain motivated and committed. 73. NGO representatives claimed that organized crime persists within penitentiary establishments. In fact, the Committee members were told that organized criminal gangs continue to operate and run criminal rackets from within the centres. 74. NGOs also pointed out that detainees under the RDD differentiated disciplinary regime are kept incommunicado and that in many cases, they are placed under this regime because of the lack of space in general cells. Inmates are said to have mental problems as a result of having been held under this regime. NGOs also informed the Committee members about the Regime Disciplinar Especial (RDE) or special disciplinary regime, where inmates are held in collective cells in a regime similar to the RDD regime.30 75. It was reported that the juvenile detention system mirrors the adult detention system with regard to impunity. NGOs provided information on alleged cases of ill-treatment and torture in juvenile detention centres. They claimed that beatings were used frequently to punish juveniles who appeared not to have respected the disciplinary rules, and in some cases simply for making noise. Often, these beatings were carried out by persons wearing hoods; hence the identity of the offender remained concealed. 30 Further information on the RDD and RDE regimes is provided in paragraphs 174-176 of the report.