Report of the Polish Commissioner for Human Rights on the Activities of the National Mechanism for the Prevention ... study, it is a serious challenge to organise the time of their stay in penitentiary establishments in a reasonable way. In the NMPT’s opinion, however, measures in this area should be taken because the possibility of participation in organized activities and forms of spending time outside prison cells reduces the negative consequences of penitentiary isolation. 6. Insufficient number of psychologists in penitentiary establishments In the Commissioner’s opinion, it is necessary to increase the availability of psychological support for persons deprived of their liberty and, at the same time, to ensure adequate standards of work to psychologists. According to the current standards, one psychologist is responsible for 200 prisoners. This makes it impossible to conduct all the tasks required of psychologists. A full-time psychologist in a penitentiary facility is, theoretically, able to work in direct contact with each of the supervised prisoners for 48 minutes per month on average. The problem of limited access to psychologists is further aggravated by their long-term absences from work, e.g. due to sick leaves or participation in training and professional qualification courses. In view of the above, the Commissioner appealed to the Director General of the Prison Service to set out a new standard for psychologists’ work51. In his reply of 15 June 2016, the Director shared the Commissioner’s position. He pointed out, however, that without new job positions, changes in the system of psychological care in penitentiary establishments can only take place gradually, depending on the funds available to the Prison Service. The NMPT will continue to monitor the issue of availability of psychological care in prisons. 7. Placement of washbasins in prison cells outside sanitary areas It is still required to solve the problem of placement of washbasins in prison cells outside sanitary areas. The problem occurs in connection with the Guideline no. 3/2011 of 4 October 2011 of the Director General of the Prison Service on technical and security requirements applicable to buildings used for accommodation of prisoners which permits such placement of washbasins. However, the Commissioner, in his correspondence to the Director General of the Prison Service of 17 July 2015 and 10 March 201652 CHR’s general intervention of 17.05.2016, ref. no.KMP.571.8.2016. Deputy CHR’s general intervention of 10.03.2016, ref. no.IX.517.1494.2015. 51 52 28