Report on the Performance of the Activities of the National Preventive Mechanism for 2019
them and similar. Their suggestions are mostly acknowledged. They also indicated that the
profession should not expect too much when it comes to the resocialisation of prisoners, and that
organisational improvements are needed at the level of the entire system, if the functioning of the
prison as a whole is to be improved. They consider their average stress exposure as moderate, unlike
the judicial policemen, who consider theirs to be high. They believe that the shortage of judicial
policemen has a direct effect on reducing the level of safety in prisons. The majority of those who
took the survey do also see the positive aspects of their jobs, but three judicial policemen could not,
while one stated that there are far more things that demotivated him, and that he is becoming more
and more preoccupied with the idea of leaving the job. The judicial policemen's answers give the
impression that they are at the end of their tether, and that they will not be able to endure much
longer if the vacancies remain unfilled. Several have stated that more and more is expected of them
("the pressure is rising, more and more is being asked of people..."). They also pointed out how
illogical it is that instead of overtime pay, they get free days, which leads to further staff shortages.
Three judicial policemen also highlighted the illusion of job security, stating that "any old nonsense
will get you the sack," and that they do not feel like they are getting any support. They also see a
problem in the "paperwork", that is, too much administrative work, citing the fact that a single
booking has to be registered in three places and on a computer, which officers cannot do on time,
especially on first shift. They are most annoyed by disregard for the provisions of the collective
agreement; for instance, the majority cannot exercise their right to a break, leaving them with the
impression that there is more respect for inmates' rights than their own. They believe their stress
could be diminished by better work organisation, by swiftly recruiting more judicial policemen to fill
the vacancies, and by ensuring better working conditions and pay. They suggest that judicial
policemen should take turns in different positions, and that the practice of always assigning the same
persons to the riskiest positions should be stopped, as this exposes them to additional stress, and
which is also seen as punishing good workers. Several have highlighted inadequate education
programmes, which amount merely to meeting formal demands. However, it is encouraging that
the majority nevertheless have not "given up" on their jobs, and are interested in improving their
working conditions.
Maintaining order and security
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Number of PDL
(on 31 December)
Special measures
3.306
3.079
3.190
3.217
3.530
1.769
1.775
1.656
1.931
2.245
Means of coercion
53
57
46
56
65
According to COPSPD data, the trend
of increasing use of special measures to
maintain order and security, and of
means of coercion, has continued in
2019.
As in previous years, special measures for maintaining order and security are unevenly applied, which
negatively affects prisoners' rights. For instance, during the visit to the Varaždin County Prison, it
was established that isolation from other prisoners and restraint measures are determined
cumulatively, in order to prevent self-harm. Although the fact that the person being restrained is
9