Annual Report 2014 of the National Preventive Mechanism It would be desirable for the entities to verify that all centres have such regulation available, since its absence, poor implementation or use of an inadequate language for its understanding by minors, could be factors of legal uncertainty that could encourage an arbitrary application of the rules at the centre and the defencelessness of the minors. Such arbitrary application of rules could occur in the absence of homogeneous criteria to establish the disciplinary regime in the internal regulations which could lead to certain centres applying very strict regulations and others more flexible one, for minors with the same or similar needs, so that the NPM considers it necessary for this matter to be regulated. Disciplinary proceedings should be the last recourse to be used, giving priority to restorative dispute resolution and educational interaction systems over formal proceedings or punishment. 295. Such regulation should contain, at least, a description of rights and obligations, matters of general organisation, rules of cohabitation and operation of the centre, procedures to file requests, claims or appeals, the system of infringements and penalties and, if necessary, the protocols to apply contention measures in situations of crisis of minors, among other situations. If necessary, the contents that they fail to understand of such information should be explained to them. 296. It is considered necessary that, upon arrival to the centre, the minor be delivered a copy of the regulation, worded in a clear, simple language adapted to his level of understanding, together with the address of the responsible authorities to which he may bring his complaints and the public or private bodies and organisations that provide legal assistance. Minors who are not sufficiently fluent in the language spoken by the personnel of the centre should have access to free services of an interpreter whenever necessary, particularly while receiving information on the contents of the internal regulation, medical examinations and disciplinary actions. For minors unable to read and write or unable to understand the language in written form, the information should be given in a manner that they are perfectly able to understand. 297. It has been observed, and this is a matter of concern, that no general legal framework exists on minors with conduct disorders, establishing the events, requirements and conditions for the public entities for the protection of minors to apply specific programs that contemplate the use of non-penalising measures of contention. 100

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