ANNUAL SPECIAL REPORT 2017 27 seminar. Similarly, external guard must also be trained, their weapons and their operational capability maintained. Regular psychological examination of security staff and external guards is also advised, in addition to measures for managing their psychological burnout. c. – It is essential that detention facilities nationally are staffed with the necessary scientific personnel (criminologists, sociologists, psychologists, social workers), so that individual prisoners’ problems and broader issues connected to each facility’s operation are effectively and comprehensively handled. 3. – Regarding objective 4.3 “Elimination of overcrowding - alternative measures and reliable implementation – prevention and handling of juvenile delinquency”: a. – In response to the reference on “participation of judges as much as possible” in the drafting of the report in question regarding the reasons of prison overcrowding, the Ombudsman recommends a general reform of the National Judicial Academy curriculum and the inclusion of non-legal subjects of a general education nature, which are considered to enhance the formation of the judges’ personality in general, allowing them to formulate a valid and reliable judgement when handling specialized cases (e.g. criminology, penitentiary sociology, judicial psychology, pedagogics etc.). b. - In response to the reference on “Study for the evaluation of the implementation of EU agreements and framework decisions on prisoner transfer and adopting measures for effectively transferring prisoners to their countries of origin”, we suggest that the Ministry of Justice participates in the European network «EuroPris» (European Organisation of Prisons and Correctional Services), in which an Expert Group operates, with a view to mutual information and exchange of “good practices” on the implementation of Council framework decision 2008/909/JHA on transferring detained European citizens to their country of origin (transposed into national law with L. 4307/2014). c. – As to the reference on the penal treatment of minors, the planning is considered to be in the right direction, given that, pursuant to measures taken thus far (such as legislation reform and limiting the number of minors imprisoned), it includes a number of necessary further actions which have been pointed out by the Ombudsman as well as by other public entities and NGOs for protecting the rights of children. These include: __ Developing Minors and Youth Care Units, by expediting the consultation and voting of the draft Law. __ Increasing the number of Minors’ Guardians and Social Relief officers through posting and transfer of staff.