Interviewees gave examples of “vulnerable prisoners” who were subject to harassment from both prison staff and other prisoners. Another especially vulnerable group prone to abuse are drug addicts, in particular those who are under the influence of narcotics or suffering withdrawal symptoms. They are not only victims of physical violence but have also been identified as instigators of violence. Other examples of prisoners more likely to be prone to abuse by both staff and prisoners include inmates who cannot afford protection through social or financial means. Several inmates indicated that prison staff tend to treat prisoners differently depending on where the prisoner habitually resides; it was noted that more privileges are given to those residing in the area near the prison. Prisoners who do not have any family and friends located near the prison appear to be rarely visited and find themselves in a more vulnerable position than those who spend their sentence in a prison located in their residential area. This seems to be due to the fact that prisoners and staff know each other from the past, but also that the prison staff feel socially pressured by their community members to treat friends or relatives within the prison accordingly. Some prisoners highlighted that continuous prison inspection and monitoring, including those carried out by international organizations, and which have a tendency to focus on ethnic minorities, do effectively provide some form of protection and security for those at risk of abuse and harassment.26 The following is an example of a severe incident involving alleged mistreatment in the Banja Luka prison. Case example of physical abuse: Banja Luka riots In March 2008, a serious incident of ill-treatment occurred in the Banja Luka prison. According to a report of the Ministry of Justice of the Republika Srpska, a group of 66 inmates rebelled by blocking access to a floor by putting tables, chairs and beds on the staircase. These events did not cause any injuries to the inmates or any great damage to property. The reasons for the blockade related to health services, the organization of education and work in the institution, their dissatisfaction with the work of the commission for conditional release, as well as the quality of food and the work of the canteen. When prisoners allegedly threatened to repeatedly block access to the floor and resume riots, prison staff intervened by separating prisoners and placing 22 of them in isolation cells. At this time, several prisoners had been brought to the so-called Cdepartment, which was located in the basement of one of the prison buildings and was without any security cameras. One prisoner described how he was brought alone to a room in the basement where he faced several prison guards. He was then pushed to the ground, stripped of his shoes and beaten on his feet and back with rubber batons. The interviewee understood that this violence was the punishment for participating in the prison riots. According to his statement, “all of this happened after the prison inspector and the TV cameras had left the prison”. Since this event, the interviewee claims to suffer psychological distress and to have become addicted to tranquilizers and painkillers. Four prisoners additionally claimed to have received bodily injuries, 26 In the prison system of Bosnia and Herzegovina governmental inspection is carried out by the appointed inspectors within the Ministries of Justice at all levels. Monitoring should also be conducted by independent commissions established under the Law on Execution of Criminal Sanctions of BiH and RS. The BiH Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees also established two independent commissions for prisons and residential institutions. Monitoring is also conducted by BiH Ombudsman and Helsinki Committee of BiH. 8