THE PRISON IN THE CITY OF PLEVEN 1.1. The main cellhouse of the Pleven penitentiary was renovated in 2015. The third floor of the prison’s dormitory unit was also overhauled and refurnished In August 2015 to accommodate the pre-trial detention cells of the DGEP regional unit. The cells for inmates sentenced to life, as well as the punishment cells and the solitary confinement cells are also located on the same floor. As of December 2015, the prison housed four hundred and twenty-one inmates. Three hundred and four of them were housed in the cellhouse. According to latest floor area measurements taken in 2015 by the DGEP, the prison’s capacity is three hundred and ninety-eight inmates. According to the minimum standard for living space per prisoner, which is four square metres, the prison is not currently overcrowded. However, the ‘Vit’ closed-type prison hostel, located right next to the main cellhouse, was overcrowded. Its capacity is thirty-eight inmates, while the number of inmates accommodated there was fifty-nine. 1.2. A major issue identified repeatedly in NPM inspections is the lack of prison work. The number of jobs available in facility services (cleaning, landscaping, repairs, maintenance, facility management, etc.) is insufficient to provide jobs for all inmates willing to work. According to regulatory requirements the number of such jobs should be ten percent of all prison inmates. The NPM takes, however, a positive view of the fact that the prison administration strives to provide work assignments for inmates serving life sentences. Since October 2014, they have been engaged in the manufacture of paper shopping bags. 1.3. A problem specific to the Pleven penitentiary is the lack of cable TV. It stems from the prison’s remoteness from the city. The NPM recommends that the prison administration seek alternative ways to provide greater choice of television content for the inmates. 1.4. Understaffing is yet another worrying problem repeatedly identified in NPM inspections. Recent layoffs have exacerbated the problem. There is just one “inspector/psychologist” position as per the staff establishment plan. It is theoretically and physically impossible for the officer occupying the position to fulfil entirely all functions. Compared to 2014, there were four less professionals carrying out all social work activities at the prison. The NPM recommends that the MoJ should reconsider the reform of prison staff regulations. The absence of social work along with the lack of meaningful and productive prison work can have substantial negative effects on the prison situation and directly affects prisoners’ rights. A possible consequence of inmates spending most of their time being idle is the increase in late 2015 in the number of inmates disciplined for testing positive for opiates. 1.5. Healthcare services in the Pleven prison are also affected by understaffing. During the previous NPM inspection in 2014, the team expressed their concern over the prison physician’s retirement. The problem had worsened in 2015, given that the prison would be staffed by one psychiatrist until 11 December 2015, one assistant medical officer until 6 December 2015, and a prisoners’ GP. The NPM recommends that urgent action be taken to procure the services of medical specialists with a view to ensuring the provision of healthcare services in the prison. There were two registered cases of lung tuberculosis in 2015. Both inmates were referred for treatment to the Lung Disease Unit at the Specialized Hospital for Treatment of Persons Deprived of Their Liberty in the city of Lovech. One hundred and ninety-nine inmates were tested for HIV and STDs under the National Programme on Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS. No new HIV infections have been reported. There was a significant drop in the number of deliberate selfharm incidents – nine cases of DSH in 2014 compared to twelve such cases in 2013. Oral healthcare services are provided by the Dental Centre at the ‘St. Panteleimon’ Hospital in the city of Pleven under the terms of a trilateral agreement between the prison, the Regional Health Insurance Fund, and the Bulgarian Dentists' Union. 40