TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD INTRODUCTION 8 10 1. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM IN 2019 13 1.a. Legal framework 15 1.b. The National Preventive Mechanism in 2019 16 2. PRISONS 2.a. Policy and legislative developments 17 19 2.a.1. Transfer of competencies regarding crime polices 19 2.a.2. Νew Codes 20 2.b. Special issues that emerged in 2019 23 2.b.1. The issue of prison overcrowding 23 2.b.2. Systemic weaknesses: understaffing, remote premises, access issues 25 2.c. Inspections in detention facilities 26 2.c.1 Inspection methodology 26 2.c.2. Remarks on inspected prisons 28 2.c.2.a. Kos detention facility 28 2.c.2.b. Larissa detention facility 30 2.c.2.c. Malandrino detention facility 30 2.c.2.d. Kassaveteia special rural detention facility for young offenders 31 2.c.2.e. Corinth detention facility 32 3. HELLENIC POLICE AND COAST GUARD DETENTION FACILITIES 35 3.a. Special issues that emerged in 2019 37 3.b. Remarks on inspected police station cells 37 5