opcat inspections 2011–2014 28 Victim-offender mediation Victim-offender mediation (BOS) takes place in specifically designated prisons for those convicted of relational and sexual offences. These prisons have special expert groups to assist in investigations ahead of client decisions, participate in victim-offender mediation and undertake follow-up. Victim-offender mediation visits are an opportunity for victims and offenders to meet in the presence of specially trained correctional care personnel. In remand prisons, there might be a focus on the victim’s perspective when cases are processed, as regards matters including permission for visits and electronic communications. OPCAT activities. The following section contains a number of observations made in connection with OPCAT inspections and about which the Parliamentary Ombudsmen found no reason to make a statement. Remand prisons Victim-offender mediation in remand prisons11 One of the first OPCAT inspections of a remand prison noted that Uppsala Remand Prison worked with victim-offender mediation activities (BOS). The same model was observed at a later inspection of Salberga Remand Prison. The Parliamentary Ombudsman investigated the issue in a special case.12 The decision emphasised that it is inappropriate to use the terms “victim” and “offender” in the context of inmates who have not been convicted of a crime. It was also established that it is not possible for the Prison and Probation Service to keep a promise to the effect that information from a prospective visitor is never allowed to reach the inmate. The Parliamentary Ombudsman’s decision also made a statement about the boundary between the duties of the Prison and Probation Service and social services with regard to contact with the injured party. The temporary remand prison premises in Östersund13 It is extremely doubtful whether the current design of the temporary remand operations in the police detention facilities in Östersund is consistent with the legislature’s intentions concerning the treatment of inmates on remand. The Act on Detention contains two opening paragraphs. Chapter 1, Section 4 of the Act on Detention states that every prisoner shall be treated with respect for his or her human dignity and with understanding for the special difficulties associated with the deprivation of liberty. Furthermore, Chapter 1, Section 5 states that enforcement shall be devised so as to counteract the negative consequences of deprivation of liberty. Since 2006, the Prison and Probation Service has had nine provisional remand places in the police cell block in Östersund. These remand places are housed in the same corridor as the police’s sobering-up and arrest cells. Following an inspection, the Parliamentary Ombudsman noted that the premises are not suitable for longer periods of detention and lacked common spaces and a gym, for example. This leads to a high degree of isolation for inmates. Placement in the remand prison thereby risks reinforcing the negative consequences of deprivation of liberty. For this reason, the Parliamentary Ombudsman stressed that the Prison and Probation Service should seriously consider 11 Ref. no. 83-2012, ref. no. 1015-2012 12 Ref. no. 2241-2012 13 Ref. no. 6386-2013