Reprimand Taking away a TV set Restriction on visits Restriction on shopping Restriction on parcels Restriction on telephone calls Solitary confinement January February 14 0 0 15 0 8 25 11 0 0 8 0 12 32 March 10 0 3 20 1 14 44 April May 6 0 8 5 0 16 22 14 0 0 11 1 9 40 June 17 0 13 25 19 10 42 July 7 0 5 12 2 30 51 August 10 0 5 18 36 52 62 September 12 0 4 26 24 58 70 October 10 43 4 17 37 99 71 November 9 8 6 28 25 80 49 December 8 26 1 3 32 51 57 128 77 49 188 177 439 565 Months Total Taking away a TV set as a disciplinary sanction was used in the Institution no. 8 only in October and November, during the period between 1 January and 28 November 2014. Because there is only one TV set in a cell, we think taking away that only TV set may amount to a collective punishment if the other inmates from the same cell are deprived of the possibility of buying a TV set. However, if the inmates buy a TV set, the sanction then no longer makes sense. Use of this sanction114 may have particularly adverse effects on the well-being of isolated prisoners (those who are alone in the cell). Against the background of scarce rehabilitation, sports and cultural activities in closed-type institutions, television is the only entertaining means and the only source of information for the inmates. Therefore, the recently-established practice of using this sanction needs to be reviewed. Furthermore, prison directors should try as much as possible to refrain from applying sanctions related to limitation of contact with family. It is worth noting that the right to have a TV set is considered a measure of encouragement under the statute of the Institution.115 As regards remand prisoners, they may enjoy watching the television upon the administration’s permission.116 We believe it should not depend on the administration’s good will whether prisoners watch TV or not. All remand prisoners and sentenced prisoners should have the right to watch television without having to obtain permission from the administration in 114 Can be imposed for up to 6 months, according to Article 82(1)(d) of the Code of Imprisonment. 115 Article 74(f) of the Institution’s statute. 116 Article 21(1)(d) of the Institution’s statute. 74 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM OF GEORGIA