15 Working methods We do not inform the places we visit about when the visit is scheduled to take place. As a general rule, they are notified that a visit will take place within a period of two to four months, sometimes within a period of up to twelve months. This enables us to gather information from several sources before the visit. Key sources in this phase include documents from the place to be visited, the oversight bodies, official authorities and other relevant bodies. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has the right of access to all necessary information that is relevant to the conditions in places of detention. Examples include administrative decisions, patient and other relevant records, statistics and internal documents on operations. Sometimes our visits are completely unannounced. These are visits to places where the advantage of arriving unannounced is assumed to be greater than the advantage of being able to collect information ahead of the visit. Interviews with people deprived of their liberty During the NPM’s visits, the conditions at the institution are examined through own observations, interviews and a review of documentation. We take photos to document physical conditions, ­information posters and equipment. The NPM’s priority is always to conduct private interviews with the persons who have been deprived of their liberty. These interviews are a particularly important source of information, because the persons deprived of their liberty have first-hand knowledge of the conditions in the place in question. They are in a particularly vulnerable situation and have a special right to protection. Their experiences are an important and relevant source of information. Interpreters are used as required. Interviews are also conducted with the staff, ­management, health service and other relevant parties. After the visit, we obtain further documentation to shed more light on the conditions at the institution, such as routines and procedures, local guidelines, administrative decisions on the use of coercion, logs, plans and health documentation. All findings are published The NPM writes a report after every visit. In the reports, we describe findings and risk factors that were uncovered during the visit and make ­recommendations for changes as needed. The goal of these recommendations is to reduce the risk of people deprived of their liberty being subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. All reports are published on the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s website. We also send the report to the institution in question and ask that they make the report available to the people deprived of their liberty and the staff. The places that have been visited are given a deadline for informing the Ombudsman about how the recommendations in the report have been followed up. Their follow-up is also published on the Ombudsman’s website. – In 2019, the Parliamentary Ombudsman submitted a Special Report to the Storting on Solitary Confinement and Lack of Human Contact in Norwegian Prisons. The Special Report is the most powerful instrument available to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. –