npm annual report 2016 / observations and recommendations Placement within a prison • The following groups of prisoners had been placed in the isolation unit: remand prisoners subjected to segregation by court order, prisoners who had requested segregated accommodation and prisoners segregated for other reasons. (Turku) The Deputy-Ombudsman pointed out that the isolation unit is not intended for accommodation and is inappropriate for the purpose. • Remand prisoners had not been separated from convicted prisoners because the prison only had one unit for remand prisoners (Turku and Oulu). One prison did not have a single unit for remand prisoners even though they constituted approximately 40 per cent of all prisoners. (Mikkeli) Comment: The Deputy-Ombudsman emphasised that remand prisoners and prisoners who are serving a sentence should be placed in different units. Mikkeli Prison reported later that it dedicated five units to remand prisoners. • A prison had two prisoners under the age of 18. One of them had been placed in a closed unit and the other in the same unit with adult prisoners. (Turku) The Deputy-Ombudsman pointed out that minors should always be accommodated in separate facilities to which adult prisoners have no access. When activities are organised for minors outside their cells together with adult prisoners, supervision must be sufficient. • In certain prisons, many units have been designated as substance-free units. To be accommodated in these units, prisoners must agree to give a urine sample whenever requested. In practice, this commitment is a prerequisite for being allowed to participate in an activity or live in an open unit. (Oulu and Pelso) The Deputy-Ombudsman emphasised that prisoners who do not wish to commit to a substance-free life should also have the opportunity to participate in activities or be placed in an open unit. 27

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