Prisons and pre-trial detention centres
• Introduce additional norms defining the maximum number of people
placed in one residential cell in a therapeutic ward, or actual organisation
of cells dedicated to a lower number of convicts in therapeutic wards,
into universally binding regulations. The NPM experts pointed out that
a higher number of people staying in one cell (shared cells) results in
a higher number of conflicts. This may result from the specific nature of
the disturbances of the inmates staying in therapeutic wards. The clash
of different characters, personality disorders and different methods of
coping with stress is the reason behind the intensification of conflicts. In
addition, the higher number of people in one cell in a therapeutic ward,
intended for persons with personality disorders of a different magnitude,
as well as persons with intellectual disabilities, may result in intensification of abuse;
• Not to limit the activities in therapeutic wards for convicts with non-psychotic mental disturbances to psychoeducation, individual psychological
support and elements of individual therapy. It is advised to offer longterm and in-depth psychotherapy, based on a long-term therapeutic relationship and focused on work on diagnosed psychological disturbances.
The NPM experts pointed out that many studies have proven that longterm therapy is more efficient than ad hoc, short-term psychotherapy and
psychoeducation.52 The above elements can be considered to support indepth insight therapy. Short-term psychotherapy is an ad hoc measure
during a crisis in a patient’s life, while long-term therapy stands for work
to achieve deeper insight and understanding of oneself, which results in
a change in character. Due to the specific nature of therapeutic wards
(the majority of convicts have personality disorders), ad hoc therapy does
not help inmates to achieve considerable changes by understanding the
unconscious motives driving their actions. In order to achieve a change,
a therapeutic alliance must be forged. The specific problems troubling the
persons in therapeutic wards make it difficult for them to establish social
relationships. It takes time to forge an effective therapeutic alliance that
would bring about mutual trust and in-depth work that results in lasting
changes;
• Amend the Ordinance of the Minister of Justice of 11 February 2011 on
positions and ranks of Prison Service officers53 by introducing the require The Journal of the American Medical Association 2008;300(13):- Falk Leichsenring, DSc; Sven
Rabung „Effectiveness of Long-term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.”
53
Dz. U. No 36, item 189.
52
31
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