SITUATION IN PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS expense, each conversation being limited to no more than 15 minutes. Article 65(1)(c) of the same Code states that prisoners serving their sentences in closed-type institutions are entitled to 3 phone conversations per month, at their expense, for no more than 15 minutes each. As an incentive measure, such prisoners may be allowed to have an unlimited number of conversations at own expense, for no more than 15 minutes each. Normally, telephones are available for use in penitentiary institutions from 9am till 6pm. Prisoners working for the logistics unit may access a telephone till 10 o’clock in the evening. As regards life sentence prisoners, they may call until midnight. Prisoners have 2 days a week to make international calls. Although prisoners are entitled to phone conversations under the applicable laws, in real life their exercise of this right is limited due to problems related to calling cards. In particular, if a prisoner does not exhaust the talk time on one card, the remaining talk time is blocked and he/she can no longer make a call to use the minutes remaining on the card. The only way is then to buy a new calling card, which is an additional cost for prisoners. Calling cards are also blocked when a prisoner is unable to have conversation due to unrelated reasons such as network overloading, call interruption, incorrect number dialing, etc. Some prisoners are serving their sentences in places remotely located from their regular places of residence or from where their family members live and the only way of communicating with the outside world is telephone conversation. The above-described problems with calling cards are a serious barrier to their ability to communicate with the outside society. The CPT has been advocating the need for some flexible approach as regards use of telephone contacts vis-à-vis prisoners whose families live far away. “For example, such prisoners could be allowed to accumulate visiting time and/or be offered improved possibilities for telephone contacts with their families.60” Recommendation to the Minister of Corrections: QQ To provide prisoner in all of the penitentiary institutions with appropriate arrangements to be able to exercise their right to phone conversation in a full-fledged manner. Resocializing sentenced prisoners The Public Defender has been reiterating in its reports that the conditions in penitentiary institutions must be such as to provide prisoner’ resocialization and reintegration into the society. While serving their sentence, prisoners should be able to learn or deepen their knowledge of subjects and skills they wish to explore more and to participate in sports, art-related, intellectual and other activities. All of these are necessary for prisoners to return to the society as full-fledged citizens after serving their sentences. For the purpose of facilitating to prisoners’ resocialization, a series of activities were implemented in penitentiary institutions such as courses in English language, Georgian writing and speech, marketing, “Start your own business” and small-size hotel management. Prisoners were able to watch and participate in cultural, intellectual and religious events, various exhibitions, “The Pen” Competition in literature, presentation of poem collections, theatrical performances, movie shows, poetry evenings, and meetings with clergy members. Educational entertainment events such as “Etalon”, “Who? What? Where?” and “The Smartest” were conducted. A methadone replacement program was implemented for drug-addicted prisoners. Various sporting events were held. In the Institution No. 2, prisoners have the opportunity to engage in various learning courses such as church chanting, Georgian writing and speech, Microsoft Access software, electricity installation and repair, floor and wall 60 2nd General Report on the CPT’s activities covering the period 1 January to 31 December 1991, par. 51 see http://www.cpt.coe. int/en/annual/rep-02.htm [last accessed 14.03.2014]. 2013 Since 2013, the following vocational and crafting programmes have been offered to prisoners in penitentiary institutions: learning courses in computer office software, Internet and information technologies; vector graphics; bar-tending; graphical printing; hairdressing; enamel work; stone cutting; electricity repair; plasterboard installation; thick felt, quilt and batik work; beauty therapy (cosmetology); massage; floor and wall tiling; sculpting (making sketches using the soft parts of bread); sewing; wood engraving; church chanting; icon painting; dances (choreography). NPM Report 23