Periodically the team diagnoses conditions such as anxiety, neuroticism, suicidal risk
psychoticism, etc.
Contacts with the outside world and filing of complaints and signals
The entrance of the prison in Bourgas is congested and there is no surveillance equipment
to prevent attempts for bringing in forbidden items, which predetermines the existing
contact procedure during visits. One possible approach is that the new shop-counters to
be built have to take into account the purpose of the visit. Their architecture in the future
requires them to be built as a visit space as well. Secondly, diversity in the list of supplies
delivered there is required, including TV sets and audio devices. There are no regulatory
requirements with respect to the furnishing and how the visits are to take place for the
premises for extended 4-hour visits. It is appropriate for this reward to be transformed
into a right for prisoners with life sentences.
In 2013 the NPM team received many signals against the administration of the prison in
Bobov Dol, containing allegations as to violation of the right to immunity of
correspondence. This is why an emphasis during the inspections in the correction
facilities in 2014 will be placed on the modes and channels for communication between
the prisoners and the external world.
The possibility for the prisoners to file complaints and signals to various state authorities
and non-government organisations in the country is a major preventive measure against
harassment in prisons. The prisoners should have this possibility in confidence. They
generally have the right to file complaints with external authorities and with the wardens
of the prisons. However, there is widespread lack of trust in the existing complaints
system, especially with respect to the confidentiality of the signals sent to external
authorities.
The NPM believes that the resolution of the issues related to the filing of complaints and
signals is related to regulatory amendments in the LESDA and the related bylaws.
Regime and administrative activities
Admission premises in general are organised in accordance with the requirements of the
law as to the differentiated placement therein. There are rare occasions when in view of
the personal security and the security of the prison, accused and defendants are placed in
groups of sentenced offenders.
There are certain difficulties upon the transfer into the groups of those coming from the
investigation arrest facilities. Due to the short period during which these individuals stay
in the admission ward (set out in art. 47, para 3 of the LESDA), it may not be observed in
certain cases. Often the period set by law also includes both non-working days during the
weekend (Saturday and Sunday).
In 2012 there have been 4 cases of illegal detention in excess of the sentence term in the
prison in Bourgas, which were due to the following reasons: inaccurately determined
total sentence; subsequent change of the grounds art. 414, para 1, item 1 of the Criminal
Procedure Code (CPC) in the total sentence pronounced; two sentences for execution
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