of the seven major thematic directions: security, physical environment, risk assessment, equality, rehabilitation, medical services and contact with the outside world. The incorporation of the Public Defender’s recommendations in the Strategy and Action Plan on the Development of the Penitentiary and Crime Prevention Systems for 2019–2020 is welcomed by the Public Defender. However, some of the activities determined by the action plan are of general nature and do not allow analysing the compatibility of expected outcomes with the Public Defender’s recommendations. Order and Security In terms of the order and security in the penitentiary system, the Public Defender’s important recommendations concern the approach to the public order, system of disciplinary proceedings and the use of security measures. In terms of the approach to the public order, the Public Defender has emphasised the importance of establishing a constructive relationship between prisoners and personnel as a precondition to reducing the risk of disorders, violent incidents and ensuing ill-treatment in penitentiary establishments. The Public Defender welcomes the fact that the action plan incorporates the mechanisms of coping with inter-prisoner violence, the concept of dynamic security and the mechanisms of incentives. These are some of the most important recommendations that the Public Defender has been issuing for years. It is with regret that the Special Preventive Group notes that the Action Plan does not address the system of disciplinary procedure at all. For years, the Public Defender has been discussing the importance of improving the disciplinary procedure and introducing minimum safeguards necessary for fair disciplinary responsibility. The Public Defender has issued recommendations in this regard. The Public Defender welcomes the fact that the recommendation regarding the application of security measures has been incorporated in the action plan, namely, the recommendation about improving the procedures of entering, settlement, search and examinations. Despite this fact, the plan does not address the issue of changing the established practice of the use of certain security measures such as separation of prisoners, visual and/or electronic surveillance and de-escalation rooms. For years, the Public Defender has been discussing the importance of the application of security measures based on individual risk assessment, regular revisions and justification for short-time periods. Physical Environment The Public Defender welcomes that improvement of living conditions in active penitentiary establishments and designing /constructing new small-sized penitentiary establishments is determined as one of the strategic objectives in the action plan. However, there is no information in the plan as to 18