cases did the accommodation only last for a few hours (between one and three). The juveniles concerned were held there for considerably longer in all other cases. One juvenile also reported to the Joint Commission that he had had to spend every night in a segregation room over the period of one week. The segregation rooms are therefore used regularly, including for prolonged periods. This contradicts the statement made by the head of the facility. Reaction: The supervision of the home had already stated at the end of 2011 that there was a need for improvement in the frequency and duration of the use of the segregation rooms, as well as in their design, and that the documentation of the individual cases, as well as improvements, had been initiated. The establishment of the stabilising room and the conversion of the first of the two segregation rooms had been part of the measures that had been initiated. Unlike the situation that was prevalent at the end of 2011, which was documented in the report book, it was possible to state that the segregation room (“cool-down room”) was currently being used within the required narrow limits and only as a measure of last resort. The Commission would like to express its concern that the juveniles were held in the segregation room without continuous supervision. Continuous supervision (direct supervision by an officer) is urgently required so that they may have the uninterrupted possibility to contact a staff member. The juveniles may not be left to their own devices in such an extreme situation. Suicidal acts could not be ruled out because of the construction and the equipment in the rooms. Continuous supervision furthermore ensures that the segregation measure is ended promptly as soon as the juvenile has calmed down. What is more, it is imperative to install an alarm system or a two-way intercom in the segregation rooms. The Joint Commission requests to be informed as soon as such an alarm system has been installed in the segregation rooms since it considers this to be particularly urgent and important. Alcoholised juveniles may not be held in the segregation rooms in the view of the Joint Commission. Reaction: The urgent recommendation of the Joint Commission to install an alarm system or a two-way intercom would be additionally discussed with the head of the facility by the home supervision in planned evaluation talks. The measure may not be used with juveniles who were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and at risk of suicide. The extensive work instruction for the implementation of cool-down measures contained clear instructions on this matter. According to the head of the facility, the juveniles accommodated in the Pedagogical-therapeutic intensive area have the opportunity to submit complaints both to him and to an ombudsman as an external complaint body. It however emerged in the talks with the four group spokespersons that none of the juve- 74