There is a need to accelerate construction works of a new institution to
arrange the detention conditions of, in particular, those life sentenced in
compliance with international standards and involve them in labor and
education as well as enable them to engage in sport. The importance of
increasing of attention to conduction of the construction works at the
penitentiary complexes constructed in Gandja and Lenkeran Cities, detention
facilities for women prisoners in Zabrat settlement and the construction works
of the new detention facility in Umbakisettlement should also be noted. This
issue has been already raised before the Ministry of Justice several times.
Some problems in relation to the labor activity of the prisoners at
detention facilities are still remaining. The Ombudsman thinks that
involvement of prisoners at detention facilities in manufacturing should be
considered in the aspect of Cooperative Social Responsibility. Entrepreneurs
engaging in such activity should be stimulated. The European Penitentiary
Rules also states that labor shall be considered as a positive component of the
internal regime at detention facilities and it shall never be used as
punishment. The administrations of detention facilities shall provide adequate
conditions for an efficient labor. The nature of jobs to be offered to prisoners
shall enable the prisoners to maintain and improve their ability to gain
income to survive after getting freedom. Also, the prisoners shall be provided
with a fair salary for their labor in any case.54
As the Ombudsman mentioned in her previous reports, there should be
specialized institutions and programs for adaptation of former prisoners to the
society. The establishment of the Social Adaptation Center for individuals
exempted from serving their sentences at Penitentiary institutions under the
State Social Security Fund in 2017 should be appreciated in this respect.55
Stigmatization should also be avoided in employment of former prisoners.
In some cases, provision of former prisoners with jobs is not enabled in the
society and even it is criticized, which surely makes the danger of their return
to crimes actual. For instance, Baku Transportation Agency sent an inquiry
for conduction of investigation on 3008 drivers to the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, Ministry of Health and other authorities. As a result of the inquiry, it
was detected that 461 drivers had imprisonment.56
So, emphasizing of the imprisonment fact is regretful and surprising the
Ombudsman thinks that the nature of the committed crimes may be
considered in such cases.
In the practice of some foreign countries, special foreign language courses
are organized for prisoners detained at penitentiary institutions and those
54
European Penitentiary Rules, Clause 26
http://www.xezerxeber.az/son_x%C9%99b%C9%99r/178520.html
56
http://apa.tv/video/45913
55
64
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