50 alien affairs Joutseno Detention Unit The two-day visit to the Joutseno Detention Unit was pre-announced. An external expert in forensic psychiatry participated in the visit. During the visit, detained residents were interviewed with the assistance of Russian, Arabic, Turkish and Dari interpreters. The visit also included an introduction to the assistance system for victims of human trafficking. Since the previous visit, the situation at the centre had changed in that it was now continuously at full capacity. Some foreign nationals were therefore being held in the detention facilities of the police. Another noteworthy observation The exercise yard at Joutseno Detention Unit was relwas that an increasing number of the atively spacious and included activities for children. detained foreign nationals had arrived straight from prison. In many cases, the process of removing the person from the country had not been initiated while they were serving their sentence, but only after their release. This is not an acceptable practice, as it prolongs the actual period of detention. Presented in the following are some of the observations made during visits, and statements and recommendations based on them: Atmosphere • Many of the detainees interviewed commended the conduct of the personnel and their treatment at the Detention Unit. One of the interviewees reported feeling unsafe, as there were detainees in the same unit who were guilty of serious criminal offences. NPM also witnessed the impact on the atmosphere of the increasing number of detainees being transferred to the unit directly from prison. Uncertainty about legal status and dissatisfaction with the legal aid provided • Nearly all interviewees had not been kept updated on the progress of the process of removing them from the country. Many were unaware of the grounds on which they had been detained and their legal status, as well as their future. One detainee mentioned that they had had no legal counsel at any point during the processing of their asylum and residence permit application. Many also said they had not understood the grounds of the negative decision they had received and only understood that their applications had been rejected. One of the interviewees had had a particularly bad experience with their legal counsel. The Detention Unit did not organise general legal advice for detainees. The Ombudsman found that detainees who had been detained awaiting their removal from the country may require legal advice and assistance in matters related to asylum and residence permits. The Ombudsman stated that it was possible that an increasing proportion