premises that would be monitored. During the preliminary meeting with the Director of the
IECD Mr. Bardhyl Faskaj the monitoring group was informed on the situation at the institution
and problems encountered by the IECD administration in Vaqarr. As a result of closing several
IECDs in the framework of restorations and reforms in the prison system, the IECD Vaqarr has
recently been subject to several changes by shifting from a common security prison into a pretrial institution. According to the director, the transfer and settlements of the incomers, mainly
from IECDs Mine Peza and Jordan Misja, Tirana at this institution have been mainly made
normally and smoothly. However, on the other side, the transfer of the detainees to other IECDs
and accommodation of pre-detainees who had recently come to this institution, has been an
extended and exhausting work load for the staff, since the change of regimen from prison to pretrial detention has revealed its own problems. Anyway, according to the director, the transfer has
been successfully conducted and the pre-trial detainees have been accommodated in rooms and
the staff has been trying to systemize them by reviewing their files and according to each case.
As a consequence of this new situation established at this IECD, the Director revealed as
the most significant problems: overpopulation, elements of security in the aeration premises and
the limited number of security staff, particularly those in the function of monitoring guards of
security perimeters. Meanwhile, other problems arising as a consequence of transfer and
settlement of pre-detainees at this institution have been the transport and administration of
personal garments and furnishings, as well as their submission to the detainees and pre-detainees,
and the information of all family members on the new location of their family members. Along
the transfer process, there have been numerous complaints from the pre-detainees regarding the
possibility about telephones since, for each section, there is only one telephone device,
insufficient for the present number of pre-detainees in that section and complaints about not
allowing the transfer of household devices such as TV and fridge, which are limited by the
applicable Order of the General Director of Prisons, no. 3895, dated 09.04.2013, who allows in
the living premises only equipment purchased by the institution with a special commission.
The monitoring group was informed that the official capacity of the IECD is 146 persons,
while, at present, at the time of inspection, there were 179 pre-detainees and 1 convicted person.
At the institution, there were no minors, but there were 18 pre-detainees, who belonged to the
category of 19-21 years old, who were not all grouped in a separate section. Division of regimens
and the settlement of pre-detainees in rooms was still in the study phase of files and adjustment
according to each case. At the IECD Vaqarr, there were four persons, who were treated with
metadon, seven foreign citizens, among whom five Kosovo citizens, one Italian and one German.
At the time of inspection, there was no person with disciplinary measure. In addition, the
inspection group was informed by the IECD administration in Vaqarr that in the recent months,
there have been several severe occurrences, such as an attempt of escape and on the date of
11/02/2015 one pre-trial detainee, who had just arrived at the institution, attempted suicide by
self-hanging, but he was stopped in time by the IECD employees and immediately, a plan of
measures was taken about his treatment.
The structure of the institution was complete and there were no absences in the civil or
security staff, but with the new situation of changing the IECD function in Vaqarr, it was
required the increase of the security staff with at least 5 employees in the security role. In
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