Implementation of Duties and Powers of the National Preventive Mechanism in 2010 The most well-founded complaints related to the two-hour outdoor stay filed by female detained persons in ZPMZ and KZ Celje; they were only allowed to be in the small courtyard, which is cramped and does not enable game balls, jogging or similar recreation, unlike the larger yard used by the male convicts. According to UIKS, the institution could organise the outdoor time of female prisoners so as to provide at least an occasional period in the institution’s major courtyard. Prisoners should use their period outside the accommodation rooms in the fresh air in the best way they can. Detained persons in ZPKZ Ljubljana also can still use only the internal courtyard, the sports ground being reserved for the convicts. During this visit, it was again observed that detained persons spent more than 21 hours per day locked in their rooms. UIKS informed us they had already discussed this issue with the management of ZPKZ Ljubljana and had required them to act in such a way as to enable detained persons to spend more time outside their accommodation rooms, despite the difficulties with space. They assured that, under their respective competences, they would insist that at ZPKZ Ljubljana, as far as practicable, the accommodation rooms of detained persons who do not pose a security risk should be unlocked for a certain period, which would enable them to stay in halls or other common room. The outdoor period could probably also be prolonged if groups of detained persons were combined into larger groups for this purpose. The most encouraging situation regarding education for prisoners was observed mainly in ZPKZ Dob pri Mirni and in ZPMZ and KZ Celje. The situation is slightly worse in relation to detained and convicted persons in smaller institutions or their sections. The undefined duration of the measure makes it more difficult to plan education for detained persons. The same applies to sections in which there are no real conditions to implement longer types of formal education. Prisoners usually did not complain about food; when they did, we never observed a wellfounded reason. Meals are prepared according to norms confirmed by the Institute of Public Health. It should also be pointed out that there were several complaints by detained persons in ZPMZ and KZ concerning the occasional lack of knives in meals (similarly to previous year in ZPKZ Ljubljana and Maribor). This time, our warning was well-founded again, and ZPKZ instructed to the cooking instructors to always provide prisoners with appropriate utensils at meal times. Prisoners also complained about the method of bread distribution; bread was placed in a larg bowl and each person helped him- or herself. We thought the complaints were reasonable, since they stated this was intolerable as some individuals picked through all the bread and the risk of contact with various diseases was higher. On the basis of our proposal, ZKPZ decided that a cook wearing appropriate gloves would distribute bread to the prisoners. During each visit, we check whether or which legislation and other relevant literature is available for prisoners and how they can access it. There were no major findings, but we can point out our observation that in ZPKZ Dob pri Mirni, Puščava Open Prison Section, the requirement under Article 210 of ZIKS-1 is not satisfactorily fulfilled. During our visits, prisoners usually did not complain about staff. The most we observed was a single complaint in ZPKZ Maribor that particularly a younger judiciary police officer overly uses the formal form of address when addressing prisoners. We proposed that the management of the institution ensure the appropriate attitude of judiciary police officers towards the imprisoned persons, since in addition to the fact that formal address conveys respect, it is also expressly specified by Article 12 of the house rules. A worrying practice was discovered in ZPKZ Ljubljana, where none of the convicts’ violations was treated according to the procedure provided by law for the imposition of disciplinary penalties, not even in cases of violence among convicts. UIKS assured us they would National Preventive Mechanism in the Republic of Slovenia under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 19