Two new cells were built to separate prisoners belonging to different maras, the kitchen was redesigned and a playground was built for visitors’ children. The electrical system was improved throughout the prison. A cell was designated for first-time prisoners. The diet was improved. Arrangements were made for the acquisition of new beds and mattresses. A new nurse was hired. The clinic was provided with two stretchers, a microscope and a laboratory for detecting cases of tuberculosis; the clinic was also repainted and provided with an ample supply of medicines. Educational and training activities were expanded to include 1,141 prisoners. A plan was being drawn up for integrating the remaining 539. Complaints boxes were installed for prisoners and visitors. Six manual metal detectors were acquired and drugs and weapons searches are conducted on a regular basis. 190.The Supreme Court also provided the Subcommittee with the report on a technical survey on the diagnosis and classification of the prison population carried out in 2007, which drew attention, inter alia, to the following shortcomings and risks in the prison system: High rate of overcrowding. The prisons are “prisoner storage facilities”, in which the inmates are not classified in anyway and there is no real understanding of each individual or their needs and possibilities, owing to the total lack of treatment or specialist work with the prison population. The provisional nature of decisions, policies, programmes, projects and measures, which are not sustainable and whose results are not evaluated, and the extremely high turnover of staff, in particular prison wardens. Lack of authority inside the prisons, large sectors of which are controlled by prisoners, resulting in greater violence and increased traffic in prohibited substances and objects. Businesses operating in the form of informal markets of many kinds, and control over workshops and other production activities. An atmosphere of unproductive idleness and monotony, lack of the minimum amenities for a decent life, meting out of punishments, the use and abuse of drugs. Lack of cleanliness; poor lighting and ventilation; scarce and poorly maintained sanitary facilities; minimal control of pests and disease carriers. Virtually no surveillance of prisoners with infectious diseases or mental illnesses; poor nutrition; poor hygienic practices. Very limited availability of human and budgetary resources. A highly risky system of privileges, leading to corruption, violence and loss of control by prison authorities. Organized crime. The extent of the associated violence and the scope it gives for corruption, as well as its sophisticated organization and financial dealings, constitute grave threats to prison security. The lack of career training for all prison police is an obstacle to staff development, stability and professionalism and does not allow professional and administrative staff or those working in the areas of criminology, social work, health, education, law and employment to specialize or get specialist training. 191.The Attorney for Human Rights of San Pedro Sula gave the Subcommittee a copy of the Supreme Court decision on a habeas corpus petition he had filed in March 2006 on behalf of the inmates of the Puerto Cortés jail. The Attorney for Human Rights noted, inter alia, that the jail had 50 places, but that at the time of the first inspection there were 104 inmates and at the time of the second, 109; the budget allocation for food was 8.30 lempiras a day per inmate; some cells were prone to flooding from water leaks, yet because there were not enough beds many inmates slept on the wet floor; the toilets were constantly foul-smelling and full of filth because there were not enough for the large number of inmates, which constitutes a hazard to their health; overcrowding is a serious risk to the individual and collective safety of the prisoners, with men and women, members of rival gangs, prisoners with mental illnesses, and convicted prisoners and prisoners awaiting trial sharing the same cells; and the lack of security and the absence of authority had led to a violent incident on 27 October 2005, in which an inmate lost his life. 192.The habeas corpus enforcement judge inspected the facility and observed that “the inmates are living in inhumane conditions caused by overcrowding and the lack of rehabilitation; the food is inadequate and there is no immediate access to medical care or medicines; there is no vehicle in which to transport inmates, and the infrastructure of the jail, which has an inmate capacity of 50 to 60, does not offer sufficient physical space to lodge the 118 prisoners”. The Constitutional Chamber concluded that the Ministry of Security should, within one year, take the necessary measures to ensure a regular supply of drinking water for the prison and sufficient sanitary facilities for personal hygiene; adequate electricity, light and natural ventilation; separation of convicted prisoners and prisoners awaiting trial; healthy food; decent beds; medical and psychological treatment by qualified staff; and effective mechanisms to prevent weapons of any kind from being brought into the prison or fabricated there, in order to protect the inmates from injury or loss of life. It should also conduct an investigation without delay into the violent deaths in the prison with a view to bringing the cases before the courts.