theme for 2015: female deprivation of liberty 47 The National Assessment Centre In connection with the inspection of the Hinseberg prison, it was noted that the institute did not have access to a psychologist. As a result, investigations at the National Assessment Centre took longer than expected which caused delayed placements. These conditions also led to sentenced women having to wait in remand for a vacant space, at the National Assessment Centre. The long investigation time at the National Assessment Centre, combined with a long time in remand, could lead to the time spent in an institution after the investigation being very short. As a result of these conditions, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen decided to investigate the National Assessment Centre’s operations.1 According to the Prison and Probation Service, inmates placed in the National Assessment Centre has particularly complex needs, which have to be investigated in order to be accommodated during the future stay in an institution. According to the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, it is however unacceptable that the execution of the sentences of this group of women is poorer than that for other inmates, as a result of a lack of investigation resources, at the National Assessment Centre. The need for more advanced investigations must, in the opinion of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, be put in relation to the limited availability of places in institutions and the current content of the execution of the sentences of female inmates. For this reason, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen has questioned whether, under present circumstances, it is justifiable that women serving a prison sentence of just two years should be investigated at the National Assessment Centre, as a general rule. For this reason, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen looks positive upon the review that the Prison and Probation Service has initiated of, among other, the National Assessment Centre.2 According to the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, it is unacceptable that the content of the execution of the sentences of women is poorer than for other inmates, as a result of a lack of investigation resources at the National Assessment Centre. In the opinion of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, it is questionable whether women serving a prison sentence of two years should be investigated at the National Assessment Centre, as a general rule. Placing inmates in a suitable institutional placement The thematic focus has also demonstrated that there are great differences between male and female inmates, in regard to specific placements. The availability of special placements that can cater for inmates’ special needs was considerably greater for men than for women in 2015. It also emerged that specialist placements and treatment programmes were, in the first instance, formulated on the basis of men’s needs and had subsequently been adapted for female inmates. In its decision, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen has encouraged the Prison and Probation Service to put greater emphasis on illustrating the special needs of female inmates and developing adapted placements and initiatives on the basis of these.3 1 Ref. no. 2527-2015. 2 JO 2018/19 p. 165, Ref. no. 1087-2016. 3 JO 2018/19 p. 165, Ref. no. 1087-2016. In its decision, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen has encouraged the Prison and Probation Service to put greater emphasis on illustrating the special needs of female inmates and developing adapted placements and initiatives on the basis of this.