Visits in 2017 institutions. The prison administration had itself raised the question of whether what was currently offered in Section G can be classified as inhuman or degrading treatment. The Parliamentary Ombudsman is seriously concerned of the situation in which individuals with mental health problems are subject to long-term isolation. These inmates are entitled to treatment, which the prison is unable to provide within the current framework. The staff stated that, in general, it was demanding to organise activities that could compensate for the detrimental effects of isolation in Section G. To a certain extent, this is due to the state of the building and, in particular, to the lack of suitable premises for such activities. The Ombudsman observed that the focus on the inmates in long-term isolation meant that other inmates held in isolation risked being offered an activity programme that meant that they had to spend 22 hours or more per day locked in their cells. Research shows that the psychological effects of isolation arise quickly for remand inmates, and that the risk increases with each passing day. For inmates who are held in complete isolation over time, the risk of permanent harmful effects of isolation increases, necessitating measures to counteract such effects. 31 Upon admission, body searches are carried out in one of the cells in Section G. Otherwise, body searches are conducted in a room beside the front door to the main building. Due to its size and inventory, this room was not suitable for such an invasive act as a full body search. Ila Detention and Security Prison has recently built a new arrival building. The prison administration stated that the physical premises used for body searches will improve significantly once the new building is ready for use. It was standard practice to have both a male and a female officer present during body searches. The female officer turned her back to the inmate during the last part of the undressing process, but several inmates said that they found the presence of female staff members in the cramped room intrusive. It was also normal for a female officer to be present during the collection of urine samples. The information the prison provides upon arrival was regarded as good, but several foreign inmates had not received the prisons’ information brochure or fire instructions in a language they understood. The majority of inmates who had been in contact with the health service stated that they received follow-up relatively quickly. The inmates’ satisfaction Photo: Gorm Kallestad / Scanpix Ila Detention and Security Prison