The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture always pays special attention to the issue of isolation, as this measure can be extremely harmful to the mental, somatic and social well-being of a person. This harm may arise immediately and increase gradually. The longer the prisoner is isolated, the stronger the harm is. The Committee believes that the maximum period of isolation should not exceed 14 days and should preferably be shorter. The restrictive regime is further exacerbated by the fact that the contact with the outside world is more limited for prisoners at high-risk facilities.97 The situation is especially difficult for prisoners whose family members live far from the facilities and find it difficult to visit prisoners due to the long distance and additional costs.98 Prisoners lack conversation and communication with people. All of this impacts their emotional state and they get easily irritated by any, even seemingly insignificant issue, and in many cases, the above becomes one of the reasons for prisoner’s protest, self-harm and conflict. The Special Preventive Group believes that the facility should systematically examine the causes of each incident and develop a specific prevention plan, which should be oriented to positive changes in the prisoner’s behavior and should be carried out in an atmosphere of communication and care. Prisoners placed in high-risk facilities should be compensated for their strict detention regime by lighter day regime. In particular, they should be given the opportunity to meet with other prisoners of the facility and engage in various activities. The aim should be to establish positive relationship between staff and prisoners. This should be in the interest of the administration not only in terms of humane treatment of prisoners, but also in terms of effective control of the facility and safety of staff.99 2.5. Conditions of detention Physical environment The closure of Establishment No. 12100 and the transfer of convicts placed there to a new building101 should be praised, as it significantly improved the living conditions of inmates of Establishment No. 12. At the same time, Establishment No. 8 has been repaired.102 However, conditions in some penitentiary facilities still need to be significantly improved and harmonized with international standards. 97 For example, convicts placed in a high-risk facility enjoy fewer visits (short and long visits), telephone calls, and unlike other facilities, they do not have the right to enjoy a video call. See the Imprisonment Code. 98 See the detailed information in the chapter on contact with the outside world. 99 European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), 11th General Report, CPT/Info (2001) 16, Strasbourg, Council of Europe, 2001, para. 32. 100 February 12, 2019. 101 On the territory of Penitentiary Establishment No. 16. 102 The roof/drainage systems were repaired in the regime buildings of Establishment No. 8. Ceilings and floors were repaired in the shower rooms. 48