V. PROTECTION OF PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY IN PRISONS AND DETENTION CENTRES In connection with the functions of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria as NPM in 2014 teams of the institution carried out inspections in the prisons in Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Vratsa, Sliven, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Varna, Pleven, Belene, Lovech and Bobov Dol as well as of the Reformatiry in the city of Boychinovtsi. The detention centres in the cities of Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Rousse and Lovech, as well as those located at the G.M. Dimitrov Boulevard and Mayor Vekilski Street in the city of Sofia. 1. Prisons The main findings of the teams of NPM were, as follows: 1. Most of the recommendations sent in 2012 and 2013 to the Minister of Justice related to the situation of the prisons and the prison dormitories, have not been satisfied with the argument that there is a lack of the necessary funds to make capital expenditures. 2. In almost all establishments inspected the need to carry out repairs in the kitchen and bathrooms is urgent. 3. Once again the NPM has found that the goods in prison canteens are priced 3040% higher than the prices of the same goods offered in civilian stores. The opinion of the inspecting teams is that such practice of the State Enterprise "Prisons Production" (SEPP) should be definitely discontinued. 4. In all penitentiary establishments the employment rate in PDL continues to move at a low level. Relatively poor is also the social and corrective action. Better is assessed only the educational activity carried out by the staff of the Ministry of Education and Science (MES). 5. In 2014 there was an increase in the number of tuberculosis patients in PDL and those suffering from syphilis. 6. Another systemic problem is the constant delay in the payment of amounts to the suppliers of goods and services. 7. The practice of imposing penalties for refusal by the inmate to assist in inspection for alcohol and drugs use has not been yet discontinued . 8. The share of the PDL proposed to parole (early conditional release) and replacement of the lighter regime of persons compared to these ones that formally acquired rights to such remains relatively low. 9. The turnover of the security staff in the system of the Penitentiary establishments (PEs) is rather big. On the one hand, this is due to the difficult working conditions in the prisons and on the other hand - due to the unattractive pay. 10. The most severe in terms of living conditions and overcrowding can be pointed out the prisons in the cities of Burgas and Varna. In these two prisons none of the recommended standards in respect to the PDL is met. 11. Despite repeated recommendations to the Minister of Justice, no special registers for use of physical force and aids against the prisoners have been introduced. There is no a unified information register for the exchange of information between different institutions - prisons, prosecution, court, the Ministry of Interior. PRELIMINARY REMARKS During its inspections in 2014 the NPM focused on monitoring and analysis in the following areas: protection measures and individual interviews with PDL; the annual 11