Situation during visit in 2008 Information received in the reporting Steps taken in previous years and (See A/HRC/13/39/Add.6; A/HRC/16/52/Add.2A) period of an administrative decision by 7.189 in 2007, a decrease of 48%.15 the prison authorities as a A report from the Danish Prison and punishment for disciplinary Probation Service shows that the number of infractions; solitary confinements imposed as Solitary confinement of remand punishment for disciplinary infractions has prisoners based on a court decreased from 715 persons in 2006 to 631 decision was strictly restricted persons in 2007.16 to situations where there are Non-governmental sources: No new specific reasons to presume that legislation has been adopted regarding the accused will impede the solitary confinement since 2007. prosecution of the case; - On 30 March 2010, the Ministry of Justice Administration of Justice Act received a report from the Director of Public contains no provisions Prosecutions on the use of solitary according to which solitary confinement in 2008, according to which: confinement can be imposed following a court decision, the i. The total number of cases of solitary decision to exclude a prisoner confinement has increased 20% from 273 from association with others is cases in 2007 to 327 cases in 2008, while the to be made after having average duration of solitary confinement presented the case to the legal decreased from 27 days in 2007 to 21 days staff of the Chief Constable‘s in 2008. office; ii. Four persons under the age of 18 were Instances where pre-trial placed in solitary confinement. detainees reported that the iii. Solitary confinement was used in 5,3% police used the threat of extending solitary confinement of all instances of pre-trial detention. In to coerce detainees to cooperate approximately 91% of the cases it was used in relation to serious criminal offences. in an investigation. - On 1 June 2010, the amendment of the Criminal Code lowering the age of criminal liability from 15 years to 14 years, could potentially impact on the use of solitary 15 16 forms the basis for the decision. The measure can be imposed on prisoners on suspicion that they are pressuring or threatening other inmates, but evidence to substantiate such suspicions does not have to be presented or procured. Anvendelsen af varetægtsfængsling i isolation i 2007, Rigsadvokaten, journal no. RA-2007-120-0037, available in Danish at http://www.justitsministeriet.dk/fileadmin/downloads/Pressemeddelelser2008/redegoerelse_isolation.pdf (20.08.2009) Statistik 2007, Kriminalforsorgen [Danish Prison and Probation Service], available in Danish at: http://www.kriminalforsorgen.dk/publika/Statistik%202007/html/default.htm (20.08.2009) A/HRC/19/61/Add.3 28 Recommendations (A/HRC/10/44/Add.2)