washbasin and toilet. The building was surrounded by a large garden with grass and flowers and a volleyball court. The activities in which female inmates could engage were limited. They were allowed to spend the entire day outside the building, being locked inside only at night. Twice a week, two volunteer teachers taught crafts classes. The prisoners did not receive wages, but were allowed to sell the handicrafts they made. They were not allowed to use the prison gymnasium and could only take exercise in the garden. Female prisoners were entitled to receive approved books, but not magazines or newspapers. They sometimes had the opportunity to engage in organized recreational activities and could see films in the prison cinema twice a week. Medical service 156.The delegation noted that the prison clinic operated 24 hours a day and was staffed by a general practice physician, a dentist, four nurses and seven technicians. The various functions were carried out in cooperation with the nearby military base hospital, where patients could be hospitalized when necessary. Specialist care was provided by external physicians who regularly provided services at the clinic (orthopaedic surgery, neurology, ophthalmology) or at the military hospital (gynaecology) or at a public hospital. 157.Transfer to a hospital required the approval of the prison administration. The delegation noted that it was necessary to fill out a form, which was then signed by the physician and the administrative staff member in charge. Members of the delegation were told that the transfer formalities could be completed very quickly in emergency cases. 158.The delegation was pleased to see that the medical staff were maintaining doctor-patient confidentiality. Guards were not allowed to be present during medical examinations, and only medical personnel had access to medical records. The physician in charge had received training in human rights and also had knowledge of the Istanbul Protocol. 159.All prisoners undergo a medical examination when they enter the prison, for which purpose a form comprising general medical criteria, including drug use, is used. However, members of the delegation observed that the form did not include a space for recording any signs of recent exposure to acts of violence or injuries. 160.The form does call for a very detailed objective examination, which would include examination of injuries, and inspection of all external parts of the body. 161.The delegation members also noted that a standardized psychological assessment was conducted to determine whether the prisoner was suffering from depression. Dental examinations were also conducted and all results were recorded in the patient’s file. The medical staff showed the members of the delegation how cases in which traumatic injuries were found were presented to the prison management. The delegation noted that approximately 10 consultations and 5 examinations of newly arrived inmates were conducted each day. 162.Prison administrators explained to members of the delegation that, after arrival at the military prison, prisoners are examined daily for drug use through urinalysis, after their written consent was obtained. The delegation was told that about 20 per cent of the urine tests showed drug use and that, in those cases, the inmates receive counselling. 163.The delegation members were also told that HIV testing is voluntary. People infected with HIV are cared for in a hospital, in accordance with standard procedures, and are transferred and treated, with precautions being taken against the risk of injury to themselves or infection of other people through infected blood. 164.The delegation found the medical clinic at the military prison to be well organized and well equipped, with an excellent medical staff. However, the Subcommittee recommends that the form used for routine medical examination of newly arrived prisoners should include space for documenting any history of recent exposure to violence and providing an evaluation of the consistency between a history of violence, current health status/symptoms and the objective findings of the examination. 4.Other prisons 165.The delegation wishes to make it clear that the people in charge of all the prisons visited provided ample information and access to their facilities in order to enable the delegation to carry out its work without any major obstacles or difficulties. The only problems that the delegation encountered were delays, sometimes long ones, in accessing some facilities. However, these problems were resolved fairly easily in all cases. The delegation wishes to acknowledge the work of the state and national focal points and the cooperation of the administrators of all the institutions visited. 166.The main problems noted by the delegation during its visits to prisons were: insufficiency of physical resources, which has led in most cases to overpopulation and overcrowding; lack of regular judicial review of conditions during detention and of the length of sentences, as well as of transfers and sanctions imposed on inmates; incidents of violence among prisoners; a shortage of personnel to manage the facilities and control situations that might arise; and in many cases, a situation of self-rule or shared rule by inmates. (a)Situations of self-rule or shared rule 167.Members of the delegation observed during their visits to prisons that in many cases there were situations of “self-rule” or “shared rule” or else an absence of control. Such practices, which are referred to as “internal arrangements” or “the boss system” pose a risk that many people deprived of their liberty may be subjected by the “bosses” of each dormitory or cell block to punishment, disciplinary penalties and other types of harassment that may fall into the category of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even torture. Moreover, in many of these facilities, all manner of commercial transactions take place, including payment for certain spaces or sleeping areas, and a whole system of privileges to which not all persons deprived of their liberty are entitled. Some of the people interviewed explained to the delegation how payments are required in order to maintain certain rights in the prison.