Many inmates were in fact said to prefer this despite the constrained space. It had so far been possible to accommodate all inmates who explicitly so requested singly. The Joint Commission requested to be told as soon as the 49 new detention places have been set up. The building structure of Cologne prison, which was opened in 1969, is in urgent need of repair and particularly completely decayed in Building 15. The floor of Building 15, which is fitted with linoleum, has many holes, the plaster is crumbling from the walls in some places, and many of the doorframes are damaged. The prison is making visible efforts to compensate a little for these striking constructional shortcomings through increased cleanliness, albeit this is ultimately doomed to failure. Buildings 17/1 to 3 have already been renovated. The cells are comfortable and friendly, in particular also the kitchen and common rooms. The spatial situation and the longer out-of-cell time evidently promote a relaxed atmosphere and encourage positive contacts between officers and inmates. The prison governor said that it was planned to bring the buildings that had not yet been renovated in line with this standard as soon as possible. Reaction: The constructional state of the prison, which had been in operation for more than 40 years, was in need of urgent repair in many respects. The total volume of the necessary repair work was currently being calculated, for which specialist external planners were being consulted. It was also being investigated here whether, instead of simply repairing the buildings, it might be more economical to demolish them and successively re-build them. The result of this comprehensive examination procedure would be available in a few months’ time. Defects that were merely optical in nature would be remedied in the customary decoration work through the funds and staff that were available to Cologne prison. There is only one-and-a-half hours’ out-of-cell time three times per week in Building 15. There is out-of-cell time three times per day in Building 17/1 and 17/3, but this is always at mealtimes and only for 45 minutes each, during which time the inmates eat their meals. There is only out-of-cell time twice per day for 45 minutes each on Fridays and at the weekend. It emerges from the documents which have been provided that no distinction is made between criminal and remand detainees among the male inmates, but that there are standard out-of-cell times for all inmates. The statement by the Ministry of Justice, by contrast, indicates that no out-of-cell time was planned. Because of the short out-of-cell time in the penal detention wings for women, they spend a very great deal of time in their cells. Moreover, during out-of-cell time in Building 15 there is currently neither a common room nor a shared kitchen available. Members of the prisoners’ co-responsibility body also complained about the short out-of-cell time and stated that this meant they were constantly “sitting round in the cells”. The ar- 36