The Public Defender reiterates that positive management of behaviour through the forms
of incentives is most significant for weakening the influence of the criminal subculture,
correction of anti social behaviour, rehabilitation and finally public re-socialisation.
In terms of employment in establishments, it should be negatively assessed that in 2016,
compared to 2015, the number of employed prisoners decreased by 28.1%. Similar to
2015, the majority of the prisoners involved in the economic services had to work against
their will on the weekends, days off and, if needed, at night. It is noteworthy that prisoners
in detention centres, closed-type and high-risk prison facilities have not been able to be
involved in meaningful activities that are of interest for them; they still spend 23 hours a
day in their cells. Their outdoor stroll is limited to an hour a day and takes place in a cell
like yard. There are no conditions for physical exercise in these yards, which also has ramifications for the inmates’ health.
According to the prisoners of establishments nos. 6 and 8, they often decline to exercise
their right to leave their cell as they are offered a walk either at 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. In establishment no. 8, considering the number of yards and prisoners, as well as the established
procedure of taking prisoners for a walk, it is impossible to ensure that all prisoners are
taken outside within the three-hour period allocated by the daily schedule. According to
the prisoners of establishment no. 18, they are only taken to a yard twice a week for only
15 minutes. Such conditions can have negative ramifications for prisoners’ health.
The Public Defender of Georgia gave recommendations to the Minister of Corrections of
Georgia on numerous occasions to set out and introduce a new pattern for registering
traumas in accordance with Istanbul Protocol, which would enable entering information
on bodily injuries that is more detailed.
The steps made in terms of organisation of health care in the penitentiary system are
positively assessed, namely, job descriptions have been defined for the Medical Department staff and the procedure for documenting bodily injuries that complies with Istanbul
Protocol has been approved. Besides, with the view of improving medical services, the
system for quality management has been statutorily regulated.
The number of medical personnel has not changed in 2016. Accordingly, the availability
of doctors/nurses remained problematic. The availability of assisting personnel and paramedics in establishment no. 18 was also problematic. The examination of the issue of
consultation provided to prisoners revealed that regularity and frequency of the visits of
the doctors providing consultation was not adequate in a number of establishments. Besides, there are problems concerning specialised doctors’ visits in the beginning of a year
before the contracts between the Medical Department and the specialists are finalised.
It should be positively pointed out that upon electronic registration incidents are promptly confirmed by the Medical Department. However, there are number of cases where a
prisoner’s transfer to a medical establishment for providing medical service was delayed.
There have been cases where a prisoner has been awaiting a transfer to a medical establishment since 2014 or 2015.
NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM (NPM), 2016
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