17 Selected topics from 2017 The isolation of inmates with mental disorders in Norwegian prisons During its visits to prisons in 2017, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has had a particular focus on inmates with mental disorders in isolation in restricted sections. These inmates are particularly vulnerable to inhuman or degrading treatment, and many of them are serving under clearly undignified conditions. Research shows that a large percentage of inmates in Norwegian prisons have mental disorders. Victoria Cramer of the Regional Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology in the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority (SIFER-Øst) published a comprehensive study in 2014 entitled ‘Forekomst av psykiske lidelser hos domfelte i norske fengsler’ (The prevalence of mental disorders among convicted persons in Norwegian prisons).1 It showed, among other things, that 42 per cent of the participants had some form of anxiety disorder, 12 per cent had one of more risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviours, and 4.1 per cent had a current psychotic disorder. The use of isolation is an invasive coercive measure, and people with mental disorders will be particularly vulnerable to inhuman or degrading treatment when they are completely excluded from company. A number of international guidelines and conventions therefore deal explicitly with the isolation of mentally ill inmates in prison. The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules) state, among other things, that: ‘The imposition of solitary confinement should be prohibited in the case of prisoners with mental or physical disabilities when their conditions would be exacerbated by such measures.’ 2 During its visits, the NPM often comes into contact with inmates who show signs of mental disorders in the prisons’ restricted sections. This includes people who the prisons themselves deem to have serious 1 Cramer, V. (2014). Forekomst av psykiske lidelser hos domfelte i norske fengsler. The Regional Centre for Research and Education in Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, Oslo University Hospital. The findings in the study led, among other things, to a joint report from the Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Service and the Norwegian Directorate of Health entitled ‘Oppfølging av innsatte med psykiske lidelser og/eller rusmiddelproblemer’ (Follow-up of inmates with mental disorders and/or substance abuse problems) (2016). 2 The Mandela Rules, Rule 45.