Places visited by the National Preventive Mechanism in 2011
also to guarantee safety of juveniles during their stay there. In response to the NPM’s
recommendations, the director of the JDC in Nowe explained that the behaviour of juveniles is systematically discussed at the meetings of the Discipline Committee. Juveniles
who tend to behave improperly or who commit to violence are excluded from group activities. They participate in individual sessions until the moment when positive changes
in their behaviour can be spotted. The director of JS in Dominowo also informed about
extensive efforts taken to solve the problem. One of measures applied should be mentioned
here, namely placing a two-way mirror in a room next to the gym allowing the director
to supervise behaviour of boys during sport activities. This was meant to ensure that boys
who are potentially exposed to aggressive acts are protected. Possible conflicts related to
the so-called „second life” in the establishments are often solved during sport activities,
which serve as an opportunity to throw punches (JS Dominów).
In Juvenile Shelter in Chojnice each new resident was examined to check whether
he/she suffered from injuries (beatings). The examination was performer by a nurse, or
– when the clinic was closed – by a guard. The list of injuries, after it has been signed by
person who performed the examination, was attached to the juvenile’s files. When it could
be reasonably suspected that a crime has been committed, the head of the dormitory or
the director of the establishment took further steps. The National Preventive Mechanism
evaluated this practise very positively.
The National Prevention Mechanism recommended:
• To eliminate practices of maltreatment of residents,
• To give up the obligation of a juvenile to introduce himself/herself Chile staying
in a transition room,
• To apply coercive measures only based on the provisions of the Act on j.d.p.
• That the staff of the establishment always reacts when safety of juveniles may be
endangered.
b) Disciplining
In JDT and JS in Zawiercie, the Mechanism found some situations which may suggest
that collective sanctions are applied in the establishment. It must be stressed that, pursuant
to the United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty181: collective sanctions should be prohibited (Rule 67).In response to the recommendations issued
by the Mechanism, the director of the establishment explained that he came across neither
of instances of such sanctions being applied nor other disciplinary measures which would
be contrary to the binding law.
The reports of juveniles about sanctions in the form of a ban on phone conversations with their parents (JDT in Świecie) also raised concerns of the National Preventive
UN General Assembly Resolution 45/113.
181
103
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents