Annexe 6 The rules of operation of the CGLPL The CGLPL drew up internal rules in accordance with Article 7 of Decree no. 2008-246 of 12 March 2008 concerning its operation. In addition the inspectors are subject to compliance with the principles of professional ethics in the performance of their duties with regard to their conduct and attitude during visits and the drawing up of reports and recommendations. The whole of these texts, as well as all of the other reference texts, may be consulted on the institution’s website: www.cglpl.fr The purpose of the CGLPL is to make sure that persons deprived of liberty are dealt with under conditions which respect their fundamental rights and to prevent any infringement of these rights: right to dignity, freedom of thought and conscience, to the maintenance of family bonds, to healthcare and to employment and training etc. Cases may be referred to the Contrôleur général by any natural person (and corporations whose purpose is the promotion of human rights). For this purpose, they should write to: Madame la Contrôleure générale des lieux de privation de liberté BP 10301 75921 Paris cedex 19 The inspectors and the centre in charge of referred cases deal with the substance of letters sent directly to the CGLPL by persons deprived of liberty and their close relations, while verifying the situations recounted and conducting investigations, where necessary on-site, in order to try to provide a response to the problem(s) raised as well as identifying possible problems of a more general order and where need be, putting forward recommendations to prevent any new breach of a fundamental right. Above all, apart from cases referred and on-site inquiries, the CGLPL conducts visits in any place of deprivation of liberty; either in an unexpected manner or scheduled a few days before arrival within the institution. Visits of institutions are decided upon, in particular, according to information passed on by any person having knowledge of the place and by staff or persons deprived of liberty themselves. Thus two out of three weeks, four to five teams each composed of two to five inspectors or more according to the size of the institution, go to the site in order to verify the living conditions of persons deprived of liberty, carry out an investigation on the state, organisation and operation of the institution and, to this end, hold discussions in a confidential manner with them as well as with staff and with any person involved in these places. In the course of these visits, the inspectors have free access to all parts of the institutions without restriction, both during the day and at night and without being accompanied by any member of staff. They also have access to any documents except, in particular, those subject to medical and professional privilege applicable to relations between lawyers and their clients. 158