35
Visits in 2016
Separate toilets and showers were not installed in 39
of 54 cells in the prison. Buckets were used in the cells
during the evening and night, without the possibility of
letting inmates out of their cell when needed. Several
of the inmates found using the bucket degrading
and they therefore used the sink as a toilet during
the night. Women have special sanitary needs and
the lack of toilets in the cells and limited access to a
shower for large parts of the day therefore represent
a special problem for women.
A very high percentage of inmates spend less than
eight hours a day outside their cells. Figures provided
by the prison for 2015 showed that approximately 41
per cent of the inmates spent less than eight hours
outside their cells on weekdays. At weekends, this
applied to 93 per cent of the inmates. Combined with
limited opportunities for activities both on weekdays
and at weekends, this was problematic. The prison’s
outdoor areas to a limited extent facilitated activity
and exercise in fresh air.
The prison only used an interpreter in exceptional
circumstances, despite the fact that foreign inmates
make up a considerable proportion of the inmates.
Several of the foreign inmates felt that they had
not received good, understandable information on
admission. It is a positive factor that the prison has
an information video in six languages that can be
shown to new inmates.
Many inmates had not had, or did not perceive that
they had had, a conversation with the health service
in connection with admission. Weaknesses were
found in the procedures for assessment of mental
health in connection with admission and follow-up
of inmates in solitary confinement.
After the visit
From 2017 women and men shall no longer serve
together in Drammen Prison. Drammen Prison shall
only have male inmates.
The prison states that the installation of toilets in all
the cells is scheduled for completion in August 2017.
Drammen prison has also initiated a number of
measures with respect to the procedures for new
admissions, including assessment of suicide risk.
The health service has introduced more stringent
procedures with respect to carrying out the admission
interviews, and all inmates will be asked about their
mental health, substance abuse and sleep.
Stavanger Prison
16-18 August 2016
Stavanger Prison has 68 high-security places divided
between men and women. The Auklend Overgangsbolig transitional housing section has a further 13
places but it was not included in the visit.
Main findings
During the visit, particular emphasis was placed on
investigating how prison conditions were adapted
for women. In line with the international regulatory
framework and guidelines, the women's section in
the prison is separate from the men's sections. The
women have their own exercise yard and nurse, and
some leisure activities were women-only. Men and
women could meet during other activities such as
work, school and communal activities. Physical
contact was not permitted in such situations.
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