PRISONS that each cell is only occupied by one prisoner, but that is also dependent on prison occupancy rates in Thuringia as a whole. The ordering of special precautionary measures is documented separately, but the documents do not indicate when these measures were enforced in the “riot-proof cells”. Only general remarks such as “segregation” or “CCTV monitoring” are entered in the files. In order to be able to better check the use of the specially secured room, its occupancy and the ground therefor should be recorded separately. Response: The Joint Commission is referring to the plain detention cells. The prison has five detention cells which are furnished only with a bed, a chair and a table and in which CCTV monitoring is possible. The prison also has two normally furnished cells which also have CCTV cameras. These cells allow an effective, staged system to be applied, and staff can respond more effectively to each individual prisoner’s conduct than was possible in the past. Further, this reduces the number of prisoners having to be placed in specially secured rooms containing no dangerous objects. Placement in a plain detention cell is not a special precautionary measure and is therefore not listed in the relevant register. Occupancy of these rooms will be documented separately in future. Further, special precautionary measures will be recorded in the prisoner’s file and continually updated. According to the head of the institution, on account of a lack of interest on the part of prisoners it has so far not been possible to establish a prisoner council. However, as an organ of collective co-responsibility in the law enforcement process, it represents an important element in the prison management system when it comes to achieving the objective of treatment and observing the principle of approximating life in prison to general living conditions (Angleichungsgrundsatz). Response: The prison is still making efforts to get a prisoner council elected. However, prisoners have shown little interest, which is, ultimately, probably due to the clientele, which comprises those in remand detention and prisoners serving short prison sentences. A good atmosphere between prison staff and prisoners is promoted, amongst other things, by prisoners being able to talk to the head of the institution. The preconditions are favourable in a small to medium-sized prison such as Goldlauter. In accordance with section 108 (1), second sentence, of the Prison Act, the head of the institution must hold regular office hours. Response: Immediately following the visit the Ministry of Justice informed the Joint Commission that it had asked the head of the institution to establish regular office hours at short notice. The communal showers do not have partitions. It would be desirable for partitions to be fitted between the showers in order to give prisoners some privacy. Partitions between the showers which do not reach right down to the floor do not necessarily make it more difficult to monitor the showers. Response: Partitions with curtains will be fitted in the shower rooms. A comparatively small number of prisoners are engaged in employment in Goldlauter Prison. According to the head of the institution, this is primarily due to the lack of businesses in the structurally weak region. Non-working prisoners are locked into their cells apart from unlocking times and during their free hour. Further, they lack both the daily structure which work gives them and the resulting social rehabilitation. It would be desirable to increase the number of jobs available. Response: Given the limited amount of space in the prison, it is not possible to increase the number of jobs available. That is why the construction of a workshop is being considered as part of the prison’s long-term building concept. The house rules are only available in German. They should be available in those languages which most of the prisoners understand. Response: The house rules will be revised following the entry into force of the Thuringia Prison Act and then translated into the languages most commonly spoken by prisoners. Whether detainees awaiting deportation should be placed in prisons is a debatable matter. The Joint Commission tends to the opinion that separate facilities should be available to accommodate detainees awaiting deportation. The situation is particularly problematic in Goldlauter Prison (it being the only facility providing custody pending deportation in Thuringia), given the small number of detainees awaiting deportation and the need to observe the principle of separation between prisoners and detainees awaiting deportation. The Federal Government’s response to a Major Interpellation in the German Bundestag regarding the situation in facilities in Germany enforcing custody pending deportation shows that in 2010 there were 38 detainees awaiting detention in Thuringia; in 2009 42 there were only 36. This means that often only a few detainees awaiting deportation are held in the prison. This increases the risk that, as described in the above, unstable detainees have to be placed under individual observation because they cannot be placed together with other, mentally stable detainees. In times in which only one detainee awaiting deportation is 42 80 Bundestag Printed Paper 17/10596, p. 12