2. Prisons and pre-trial detention centres 2.1. Introduction In 2016, a total of 16 penitentiary establishments were visited15, including 6 prisons, 8 pre-trial detention centres and 2 field units. In one prison and in 4 pre-trial detention centres thematic visits were conducted to assess the observance of the rights of persons with disabilities (physical and sensory disabilities), detained there16. The NMPT representatives also carried out one visit to verify the observance of the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental illnesses, serving sentences of deprivation of liberty in therapeutic care wards, and prisoners who pose a serious threat to other members of the society or to the penitentiary establishment’s security (and who are detained in the so-called N units for dangerous prisoners, with N standing for the Polish word “niebezpieczny” which means dangerous)17. Here was also one ad-hoc visit carried out as a result of a press publication18. 2.2. Systemic problems Unfortunately, the visits to penitentiary establishments carried out in 2016 lead to the conclusion that the systemic problems identified in the last years still remain unsolved: 1. Placement of persons with serious health problems in penitentiary establishments In the opinion of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture, particular attention should be paid to the problem which arises from 15 Prisons in: Płock, Bydgoszcz-Fordon, Wołów, Gorzów Wlkp., Koszalin and Stare Borne; pre-trial detention centres in: Poznań, Wrocław, Gdańsk, Lublin, Lubsko, Sanok, Elbląg and Nowa Sól; field units: Poznań and Moszczaniec. 16 Prison in Bydgoszcz-Fordon; pre-trial detention centres in: Poznań, Wrocław, Gdańsk and Lublin. 17 Prison in Wołów. 18 Prison in Płock. 20