As a result of conducted visits, in two establishments the NPM recommended
the separation and furnishing of the visiting room without a supervising officer
(PDC and EW in Choszczno, PDC in Środa Wielkopolska).
Attention was drawn to the fact that in accordance with the provisions of the
Annex to the Ordinance of the Minister of Justice of 17 October 2003 on living
condititons for prisoners of prisons and pre-trial detention centres48, a separate visiting
room without a supervising person should be appropriately equipped. The lack of the
room for the execution of a reward provided for by Article 138 (1) (3) of the Executive
Penal Code, makes it practically impossible to execute it, even if prisoners meet the
requirements to be granted a reward. In reply the abovementioned recommendation,
directors of visited establishments informed that prisoners staying in units under their
supervision were mostly employed outside the units and met the requirements to visit
relatives outside the establishment. Therefore, unsupervised visits in a separate room
are rare. However, if appropriate facilities are available in future, the establishment of
such a room will be considered.
Another form of contacts of convicts with the
outside world are phone conversations. Time limitations concerning the pay-per-call
telephones took place in all units. Prisoners stated that the calling time per one
prisoner was insufficient (PDC in Gliwice) or the number of days when an prisoner
may an enjoy this right was too small (Prison in Goleniów).
9. Cultural activities
European Prison Rules [Recommendation Rec(2006)2 of the Committee of Ministers to
member states on the European Prison Rules]
Rule 27.1 Every prisoner shall be provided with the opportunity of at least one hour of
exercise every day in the open air, if the weather permits.
Rule 27.2 When the weather is inclement alternative arrangements shall be made to allow
prisoners to exercise.
Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners [New York 1984]
Rule 21 Every prisoner who is not employed in outdoor work shall have at least one hour of
suitable exercise in the open air daily if the weather permits.
Young prisoners, and others of suitable age and physique, shall receive physical and
recreational training during the period of exercise. To this end space, installations and
equipment should be provided.
Executive Penal Code (Dz.U. of 1997, No 90, item 557, as amended)
Article 67. (3) The impact on convicts, respecting their rights and requiring the fulfillment of
their duties, shall take into account, in particular (...) cultural and sports activities,
maintaining contacts with their families and the outside world and therapeutic mechanisms.
Art. 98 In the regular detention system, a convict may enjoy (...) cultural and sports
activities.
Article 102. A convict has the right to, in particular: (...)
6)enjoy cultural and sports equipment and activities, radio, television, books and press;
Article 135. (1) Convicts shall have conditions for an appropriate enjoyment of pastime. To
this end, cultural and sports activities shall be organized and social activity of convicts shall
be stimulated.
48
Dz.U. of 2003, No 186, item 1820.
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