MONITORING ACTIVITIES ADULTS CASES CONCLUDED IN 2017 IN RELATION TO MONITORING ACTIVITIES 67 cases about suicide attempts, deaths etc. at Prison and Probation Service institutions or among persons in police custody None of the cases gave rise to criticism. 19 cases opened by the Ombudsman on his own initiative (12 of which were opened in direct continuation of monitoring visits) Seven cases resulted in criticism and/or formal recommendations. Selected cases opened by the Ombudsman on his own initiative in connection with monitoring visits Conditions for mentally ill inmates were investigated: The Ombudsman carried out an investigation of conditions for inmates of a special prison unit for mentally ill inmates, especially their possibilities for participating in occupational and other activities. When the Ombudsman was informed by the authorities about definite improvements of their conditions, he concluded the case without criticism. (News story published on 11 January 2017). The rules on door and window alarms were not observed at a residential facility (three cases): Various types of alarms had been used at the housing units of a number of residents at a municipal residential facility without observance of the relevant rules. The Ombudsman criticised the municipality’s course of action, and the municipality tightened up its procedures. (Case No. 2017-9 and news story published on 29 March 2017). Reports on placements in security cells were inadequate: The Ombudsman criticised the Prison and Probation Service in two cases in which inmates were placed in secu­ rity cells (and typically forcibly restrained to a bed). In one of the cases, an inmate had been in a security cell for more than four days and nights. The Ombudsman as­ sessed that the reports on the placements were inadequate, and he also criticised several other matters in the cases. The Prison and Probation Service would under­ take various improvement initiatives. (Case No. 2017-18 and news story published on 21 August 2017). 39