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4.6.
INTERVIEW WITH PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY
Interviews planned before the visit to the institution are conducted (usually with persons
who submitted complaints or whose rights are violated according to the existing information),
with persons who asked for interview, as well as with other persons chosen by the system of
random sampling (randomly chosen).
It is recommended that the interview with persons deprived of liberty takes place in the
premises where these persons are held (visit them) and not in a special room assigned for this
purpose by the management of institution (where they would be brought).
The interview with a person deprived of liberty is, as a rule, attended by two members of
the visiting group, whereby the one who conducts the interview does not record anything
(maintains eye contact all the time in order to develop trust), while the other member is in charge
of recording.
In the course of interview with the staff one should demonstrate professionalism, present the
PM, purpose of the interview and persons who conduct interview; one should not deal with
circumstances that are outside one’s competence, should respect the integrity of interlocutor,
avoid any familiarity, point out the confidentiality and the possibility to refuse to talk, show
empathy for the suffering that the interlocutor refers to, not create unrealistic expectations
for the interlocutor, take care of safety of the source of information, not take photos of the
person without his/her consent, ask clear and precise questions, state reliable, clear, precise
and comparative facts etc.
In the course of interview one should use the questionnaire but allow the interviewed person
to go beyond the scope of asked questions.
4.7.
VERIFYING OBTAINED INFORMATION THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT SOURCES
Obtained contradictory information is checked by the means of different sources (conduct
control interviews with other persons, additional check-up observation, additional review of
records and documentation etc.)
(In case the credibility of the obtained information is beyond doubt it is possible to exclude this
phase)
4.8.
SHORT MEETING OF GROUP MEMBERS
Short meeting of all visiting group teams takes place.
First impressions of the subgroups for specific areas are exchanged; main problems in the
institution are indicated.
Agreement on the short summary of the situation in institution that will be submitted to the
management of institution is made.
Additional questions that the management of institution will be asked are settled.
Additional documentation that will be required from the management is identified.
(The visiting group leader can decide to exclude this phase)
4.9.
FINAL INTERVIEW WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTION
The interview is attended by all members of the visiting group.
On behalf of the visiting group, its leader conducts the interview.
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