ANNUAL SPECIAL REPORT 2018 29 make it possible for the prisoners in rural detention facilities to benefit as much as possible from this alternative means of punishment, the new data should be assessed, and appropriate adjustments should be made to the way in which these facilities operate. The control carried out to decide the transfer of a detainee to a detention facility is often inadequate, as in most cases it is found that the prisoner is not qualified to be transferred, but only after the transfer has already taken place. Additionally, special care is not taken in the case of drug addicts, even when there are no relevant programmes, as in the Adult Rural Detention Facility in Tiryntha, or even a permanent psychologist, so it is necessary to take all the appropriate supporting measures when the relevant transfers are made. With respect to the above remarks, the NPM has suggested the establishment of a new code8 for the regulation of the rural detention facilities in order to enhance them, as a means of an alternative detention policy and not just a means of avoiding the overcrowding of other prisons. 2.d. Specific observations on some detention facilities This section includes observations not on all prisons visited by the ΝPM in 2018, but only on those that have given rise to remarkable findings or proposals that are so specific to individual facilities that they cannot be included in the general categories of the above section. i. Volos Special Juvenile Detention Facility In this prison we observed signs of neglect and deterioration as well as a general negative environment, which are confirmed by the frequent self-injuries of the detainees as well as by their (usually rejected) requests to move to other facilities. Another matter of concern is the fact that, during our visit, the prison’s population consisted almost exclusively of foreigners (with the exceptional case of two Roma), reminiscent of a ghetto situation. It is also estimated that the Administration directly handles matters that should fall within the competence of the social service. The NPM's proposals are based on a more practical orientation, in the light of its findings. In particular, we recommend the establishment of a more stable and closer connection with the local Hospital to meet the needs of the detainees promptly and adequately, as well as with a mental health institution or service, in order to properly evaluate and systematically support detainees' mental health and to avoid fragmentary treatment limited to 8 Already adopted before the conclusion of this Report: Ministerial Decision 14088/5.3.2019