ANNUAL SPECIAL REPORT 2017 15 ⚫ GENERAL DETENTION FACILITIES Methodology of inspections A NPM team consisting of at least two of the Authority’s experts visits the Detention Facilities without previously notifying the prisons. The visit takes place preferably on working days and in the morning hours, so that all members of the staff are present, it is normally completed in one day and it lasts for several hours –at least five- depending on the size of the Facility. Firstly, the team meets with the Administration, the Chief Warden, as well as with the social service, psychologist and doctor (if any), in order to grasp a first impression of the situation and identify problems, shortages or disruptions, but also “good practices”, according to staff evaluation. Secondly, the team visits the facility’s area accompanied by administration representatives and communicates with the prisoners in groups –or, in some cases, individually. During this communication, wardens remain outside of the room or cell if requested to. During the visit, the team may take pictures of the facility, it engages in conversations with the inmates with no staff present and it visits all areas of the facility (cells, dormitories, disciplinary cells, new-entrants hall, doctor’s offices, cooking areas, recreation areas, library, workshops, management offices etc.), it examines the record of injuries and, on occasion, the prisoners’ medical files, decisions that grant or refuse leaves of absence, the minutes of disciplinary boards etc. It also asks for samples of the above documents and of food rations. The team also examines work placement lists, in order to determine if all interested prisoners have access to working positions and that they alternate in them. Lastly, the inmates’ sense of personal security is investigated. The prisoners are informed of the NPM and the Ombudsman’s authorities and they are encouraged to submit a complaint to the Ombudsman on any matter within its competence. In fact, those complaints are often received by the team members during their visit or they are sent by mail immediately after. Throughout the visit, the team’s specialized scientists record their observations in writing or electronically, take photographs of anything notable in the areas visited and generally collect the material that will be used for drafting their report and their suggestions or observations towards the administration. After the visit in the facility’s areas has been completed, the team meets with the Director once again, in order to set out the problems that the team may have observed or any complaints made by the prisoners. Whenever possible, the team also meets a representative of the wardens’ union and the external Guard.