24
THE GREEK OMBUDSMAN
tled electrical installations, leakage of plumbing installations, odours
and inadequate ventilation, while the Administration blames the inmates for some of the damage.
__ In the Chalkis Detention Facility the electrical installations face acute
problems and a high fire risk.
__ At the Corfu Detention Facility, a wing is closed for safety reasons
due to poor connection of power and water supply during its recent
refurbishment.
iv. Progress and difficulties in prison visits
Recent innovative initiatives by the Ministry of Justice to organise visits have
already begun to produce visible results. In particular, at the Detention Facility
of Grevena, the NPM had the opportunity to see the properly designed and
decorated children's visiting area, where even the video surveillance system
is camouflaged so that the young visitors (children related to detainees) feel
comfortable. There is also a family guest room suitable for private meetings
of prisoners with their partners, while the prisoners already allowed ‘Skype
visits’. Electronic visits are also available at the Trikala Detention Facility.
However, in many cases, there are dysfunctions, mainly due to delays in the
relevant infrastructure and problematic spatial arrangements. In particular:
»» At the Special Rural Juvenile Detention Centre in Kassaveteia, it is
reported that young inmates cannot meet with their spouses and
children in open visits because, due to a lack of appropriate mechanical equipment for checking visitors, such visits are approved
sparingly and mainly for persons who have been in the prison for
a significant amount of time so that their personalities can be assessed.
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