According to the information collected during the visit to Lepoglava State Prison, there are
over two hundred final decisions from executing judges (judges responsible for the execution
of prison sentences) on the violation of rights referred to in Article 74 of the EPSA in respect
of the accommodation conditions. Additionally, during the visit special attention was given to
provision of health care, implementation of treatment, performance of disciplinary measures
and specific measures of maintaining order and security.
As the prisoners in certain wards more frequently complained about the work of treatment
officers, we have examined the auxiliary records kept in the wards as well as the prisoners'
personal files. It was established that particular treatment officers spend very little time in the
wards, that is, in direct contact with the prisoners. As a consequence, prisoners in those wards
who requested an interview had to wait longer for it, so when they are called to talk with the
treatment officer, the reasons for the interview are often already outdated. All of the above
contributes to the overall dissatisfaction of prisoners. The head of the prison was warned
about the identified problem and given a verbal recommendation to find a suitable
organisational solution for ensuring the everyday presence of treatment officers in the wards.
Furthermore, during the visit it was established that a growing number of prisoners are
becoming addicts while serving their prison sentence. As a result, it was recommended that
records of new Suboxone addicts should be kept in order to gain better insight as to the scope
of this issue and to be able to plan potential preventive procedures. Finally, a lack of
appropriate medical follow-up or support to addicts who wish to quit their Suboxone therapy
was established. Prisoners who do not have a health insurance policy with the Croatian Health
Insurance Fund (hereinafter: HZZO), and who suffer from hepatitis C and were recommended
for medical treatment, do not receive it because the Ministry of Justice does not have
allocated funds for that purpose.
f) Zagreb County Prison
Zagreb County Prison accommodates the highest number of persons deprived of their liberty
in the entire prison system - the total of 881 persons. At the time of the visit, the County
Prison's occupancy rate was 162%, which generates violations of the rights of persons
deprived of liberty in terms of the accommodation conditions. Furthermore, the worst
conditions were established in rooms occupied by the persons serving prison sentences for
misdemeanours. For example, a dormitory of 87.80 m2 in size, where misdemeanour
offenders stay 22 hours a day without any organised activities has 31 beds and two auxiliary
mattresses and during the visit it was occupied by 21 persons deprived of their liberty. This
room has only one toilet. It is not possible to separate smokers from non-smokers. The second
dormitory is 43.71 m² in size, with 16 beds and 13 residents at the time of the visit. All of
them are complaining about the cleanliness of their blankets because they are, due to the lack
of laundry washing machines, washed only once or twice a year. Conversely, dormitories in
the County Prison's medium security ward in Vukomerec are generally in compliance with
international and legal accommodation standards.
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