3.6. The computer designated for access to legislation and court decisions
During the tour of Tallinn Prison and Viru Prison the advisers to the Chancellor checked the
possibilities for internet access to the legislation databases and registers of court decisions.
Unfortunately, the advisers to the Chancellor could not access the internet on the computers
checked by them.
The Chancellor recommended to Tallinn and Viru Prisons to ensure the functionality of the
computers adjusted for use by detained persons in the accommodation building E1 in Tallinn
Prison and the accommodation department S17 in Viru Prison. In order to ensure smooth and
convenient access to the internet for the detained persons to the extent allowed for them, the
Chancellor recommended to Viru Prison to check at certain intervals the functionality of the
computers adjusted for use by detained persons.
The follow-up visit to the Harku imprisonment department of Harku and Murru Prison showed
that the prison had complied with the Chancellor’s recommendation made after the inspection
visit in 2013 and on the day of the follow-up visit it was possible to access the legislation and
court decisions via the computer in the prison library.
3.7. Recording of the use of physical force, service weapon, special equipment or means of
restraint and examination of the health status of an offender in the relevant report
During the inspection visit to Viru Prison and the follow-up inspection of the Harku
imprisonment department of Harku and Murru Prison, reports on the use of physical force,
service weapons, special equipment or means of restraint and examination of the health status
of offenders were examined.
Upon the inspection of the reports in Viru Prison, on several occasions it was impossible to
ascertain whether and who of the medical staff had examined a person after the use of force,
special equipment, weapon or means of restraint. The examined reports also revealed that on
several occasions the note made by the health care staff regarding the health of a restrained
detainee was very general or the date and time of the examination was missing. There was also
no reference in the reports to indicate that the more detailed information on the examination of
the health of the detainee would be available in another document, for example a health card.
Upon the follow-up inspection of the Harku imprisonment department of Harku and Murru
Prison, some problems with the examined reports could still be found.
The Chancellor emphasised once again the importance of properly documenting the use of
physical force, service weapon, special equipment or means of restraint in respect of a detained
person, which is important for the prevention and combating of ill-treatment of detained persons
but also for the authorities for disproving unfounded allegations of ill-treatment.
The Chancellor recommended to Viru Prison in the future to record in the report on the use of
physical force, service weapon, special equipment or a means of restraint the result of the
examination by health care staff as specifically as possible and also note in the report the data
concerning the check (the exact time of the health check, i.e. the date and time; the name and
signature of the health care staff). The Chancellor also made a similar repeated recommendation
to Harku and Murru Prison. The prison agreed with the criticism and affirmed that an additional
explanation of the issues relating to recording the data of the health check carried out by health
care staff had been given to officers.
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