Visit no. 36-2015 Date: 2015.11.24 Location: Estabelecimento Prisional de Olhão [Olhão’s Prison Facility] (Faro) Subject: Detention conditions. Terms of occupation of inmates’ leisure. medical and nursing assistance On the morning of November 24th, it was carried out a visit to the Prison Facility of Olhão. Despite having capacity for 51 inmates, on the day of the visit this prison had 61 detainees. Another one was in the prison hospital. With regard to labour activity, it was found that there were 13 detainees with cleaning activities and four inmates who are serving their sentence with contact with the outside world are working to external entities. According to what was heard during the visit, the collaboration with the Municipality of Olhão – one of the entities to whom works a prisoner – has been very positive. There are three inmates that serve their sentence in the open regime but inside the prison who sporadically executes activities in the construction industry, in particular painting buildings and bricklayer’s workshop. It is also expected that another inmate, that is handicapped, will have occupation in the Municipality of Vila Real de Santo António. There are four inmates who are self-employed as artisans and artists such as painters, duly authorized by the Director. In short, more than half the prison population has occupation. In addition to the work activities it is necessary to bear in mind the leisure time and the voluntary activities in prison. Thus, the delegation of Olhão of the Portuguese Red Cross is responsible for training the inmates skills and also for sporting activities, psychological support and employee training. The VANEUS Association, which is a religious organization, supports their mutual assistance. It also developed the project «Chess for Life» with the help of a psychologist, which aims to prepare the inmates for making decisions. It is given a motion picture course. The Association ACASO develops, every three months, citizenship training program. There are also various sports activities, whether table games (ping-pong, chess and checkers) or gym, and even a training program on values and ethics in sport, organised by the Portuguese Football Federation. The prison also signed a protocol with the Olhão’s Municipal Library to be available books and CDs, monthly, and newspapers and magazines, on a weekly basis. Furthermore, and with the exception of inmates who are in open external regime and those who attend bricklayer’s workshop (which are 16), all other inmates attending school but those who have cleaning activities only after finishing their tasks. Thus, Portuguese language classes are taught (for foreigners) and are given English, botany and plantation lessons. Integrated formations are also given following the protocol with the Vocational 56 |