Regarding the specific treatment of life-sentenced prisoners, the CPT welcomes the ongoing plan to transfer them to Armavir Prison which, it is hoped, will offer a more appropriate regime with a wider range of purposeful activities. It also commends the authorities for other developments such as the decrease in the use of routine handcuffing and the transfer of some inmates to a semi-closed regime. However, it maintains that visit entitlements for this category of prisoners remain too restrictive. In their response, the Armenian authorities describe the disciplinary actions taken towards persons attempting to establish hierarchical positions among prisoners. They also provide a description of the major legislative measures undertaken to combat prison overcrowding and steps taken to combat corruption among prison staff. Regarding health care, the authorities provide information about plans to increase staff salaries and to improve equipment, and indicate that the CPT’s recommendations on the issue of medical screening upon admission will be taken into account. Regarding the treatment of life-sentenced prisoners, the authorities confirm that their regime was under review and that the current requirement to keep them separate from the rest of the prison population will be lifted. They also state that other CPT recommendations, including the alignment of visit entitlements with those granted to other detainees, will be considered in the drafting of the new Penitentiary Code. 28. At the two psychiatric establishments visited, the CPT found satisfactory patientstaff and inter-patient relations. It points, however, to shortcomings in patient accommodation and specifically regrets that female forensic patients in the Forensic Unit of Nubarashen Hospital were still not provided with a separate section. Other shortcomings observed include insufficient staffing levels, limited access to the outdoors and a lack of psycho-social rehabilitation and occupational and/or creative activities. Further, the CPT formulates several recommendations on the use of mechanical restraints, notably regarding the duration, recording and supervision of the measure. It also makes recommendations regarding the safeguards surrounding persons admitted to psychiatric establishments, for example, that all compulsory placements of criminally irresponsible patients be subjected to regular court review. The CPT calls upon the Armenian authorities to amend the Law on Psychiatric Assistance with a provision on the periodic review of involuntary civil hospitalisation, which should take place at least once every six months. In its response, the Armenian Government describes recent measures taken to improve patient accommodation and informs the CPT that a female ward has been created in the Forensic Unit of Nubarashen Hospital. Other improvements will be dependent on the availability of financial resources. Regarding the use of restraints, the Ministry of Healthcare issued new instructions in August 2016, in line with the CPT’s standards. Amendments to the current legislation will further clarify and strengthen safeguards for psychiatric patients, including involuntary hospitalisation. Report and response published in November 2016 (CPT/Inf(2016)31 and CPT/Inf(2016)32) Publication highlights ► Page 17