40 residence of some of female prisoners, they often have difficulties in maintaining contact with their families, which was noted by the NPM in its report117. With respect to the year 2012 certain improvements were made regarding treatment activities. In February 2013, Directive118 on the methods of operation of the Treatment Service within penitentiary institutions was adopted, with the aim of simplifying and harmonizing work practices of civil servants working in treatment programs in all penitentiary institutions. In May 2013, a new Strategy for the Improvement of the System of Execution of Criminal Sanctions for the period 2013 – 2020119 was created, which among other things foresees the adoption of the Law on Probation, which will establish the procedures for execution of alternative measures and sanctions, and regulate in a systematic manner, the assistance and support to the convicted persons upon their release, in order to ensure their efficient reintegration into the community. This Strategy also provides for certain changes and improvements in the area of the execution of criminal sanctions against juvenile offenders, which are related to the improvement of treatment programs and programs of preparation for release. Same changes have been also announced in the area of ​​execution of criminal sanctions against women, which are primarily related to the construction of new accommodation facilities and the construction of open ward in the Penal Correctional Institution for women in Požarevac, improvement of treatment programs, and implemention of vocational education and training programs designed to meet labor market needs and improve employment opportunities of female prisoners after the execution of the criminal sentence. Most of the recommendations in the field of health care refer to the irregularities that were also present during the previous year, 2012120. Numerous deficiencies related to providing health care services to persons serving prison sentences, as well as necessary medication and therapy, are still observed. Medical examinations upon admission to prison are arbitrary, there are no uniform protocols, regular medical examinations of the convicted persons are generally not performed at intervals of less than three months, a physician does not examine detained persons who are ill every day. It is common that the therapy is administered by non-medical personnel. On the basis of conducted visits, NPM has observed that non-medical staff continues to attend medical examinations, even when not required so by a health worker, thereby violating the privacy of convicted persons and their right to confidentiality of medical information. Generally, prison doctors do not submit periodic reports to prison wardens as stipulated by the Law on the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (regarding the health of the convicts, findings and recommendations on the amount and quality of food, sanitary and hygiene conditions in the penitentiary institution, the physical activities of the convicted …) Despite numerous recommendations sent by the NPM, health care services in the institutions for the execution of criminal sanctions remain under the jurisdiction of those institutions, i.e. under the jurisdiction of the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, instead of being under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health. A particular problem represents the fact that, despite numerous recommendations made by the NPM, convicted persons with severe mental disorders are accommodated within regular prison regime. This in not in accordance with the valid standards, represent an omission in terms of protecting the rights of those persons, and if continued, can constitute inhuman and degrading treatment. Apart from the inability to provide an adequate health care, it opens up a series of questions, such as security of these persons, security of other inmates, as well as the question of training of the prison officers, including the existing medical staff in order to adequately act around such persons. It is necessary to make additional efforts in order to provide accommodation and assistance to the persons with mental disorders, ap117 NPM report on the visit of the Penal Correctional Institution for women in Požarevac, No. 71-66/13 118 Directive on the methods of operation of the employees of the institutions for the execution of criminal sanctions, work procedures and layout and content of documents during the identification, implementation and modification of treatment programs for the sentenced criminal and misdemeanour offenders, and the method of application of the By-law on treatment, assignment and reassignment of convicted persons, No.110-00-1/13-03 from 24 February 2013. 119 No. 021-10982/13 from 18 December 2013. 120 Annual report of the NPM for 2012.