7.2. Method of inquiry into the isolation of persons deprived of their liberty… During the visits, an inquiry into isolation was conducted on the basis of the following groups of questions: • recording the identified isolation practice; • the process of the isolation procedure; • the circumstances of isolation; • the rules and practices of monitoring; • questions for the general interviews to be conducted with persons in isolation; • questions for assessing the psychological state of the person in isolation. 7.3. Forms of isolation applied at the places of detention visited in 2016 As a result of the departure of almost half of public servants with a degree in law, participating in the performance of the tasks of the NPM, out of the 10 visits conducted in 2016, reports on only three visits had been completed by December 31, 2016: on house arrest in a private apartment, on the inspection of the Cseppkõ Children’s Home, and on the visit to the Juvenile Penitentiary Institution. Since in the case of the person under house arrest isolation within the place of detention had no sense, I am going to summarize the experiences gained as regards the isolation of children within the institution. 7.4. Isolation of children deprived of their liberty in the place of detention Irrespective of the reason for their detention, juveniles deprived of their liberty are inherently more vulnerable than adults. Due to their vulnerability deriving from their age, particular vigilance is required on the part of the staff members of places of detention holding juveniles to ensure that their physical and mental well-being is adequately protected.107 The placement of juveniles in conditions resembling solitary confinement can compromise their physical and/or mental integrity. If juveniles are held separately from others, this should be for the shortest possible period of time and, in all cases, they should be guaranteed appropriate human contact, granted access to reading material and offered at least one hour of outdoor exercise every day.108 107 108 See CPT/Inf (99) 12, Clause 20. See CPT/Inf (99) 12, Clause 35. 49