National Preventive Mechanism Upgrading of correctional institutions to accommodate persons with disabilities As the NPM demonstrated in its previous year’s report (pp. 61 et seq.), only 16 of the 40 correctional institutions and field offices are currently equipped with one or more inmate cells for persons with disabilities. It is primarily the southern Laender that have a need to catch up. Thus only one of the four institutions in Graz provides access for persons with disabilities. Obvious deficits Therefore – with reference to Art. 14 (2) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – the NPM urges that persons with disabilities, who have been deprived of their liberty through some proceedings, have the same living and lodging conditions as the other inmates. In view of this, the existing structures must be adapted as soon as possible. Remodelling of buildings and additional constructions are to be made as soon as possible. State‘s warranty obligation The Federal Ministry of Justice has announced that the expansion of the Asten Centre for Forensic Science and the construction of the Salzburg correctional institution in Puch/Urstein will be completed by mid-2015. Schedule for new installations The renovation of the cell block and the special medical facility at the Stein correctional institution will commence at the end of 2014. The work should be completed by mid-2016. The aforementioned building projects were initiated after consulting with a representative of an organisation for persons with disabilities in accordance with the “National Action Plan on Disabilities 2012 – 2020”. The NPM has informed itself regarding the progress of the construction in Puch/Urstein by making an on-site visit to the installation, which was still a shell in mid-December 2014. It made certain that all areas were adapted for barrier-free access. The spacious layout, warm colours in the outer wall design, and the bright inmate cells flooded with light were particularly pleasing. It is all the more regrettable that the entire installation, which is designed for 227 inmates, only has two lifts in the locked area and four washrooms equipped for persons with disabilities. This appears to be too little in light of the increasing age of the inmate population. Too few inmate cells to accommodate persons with disabilities This deficit cannot be remedied at the current stage of progress in construction. However, it can be ensured that Nirosta steel toilet facilities in the specially secured cells are adapted to the floor level. They obviously neglected to set the line of toilets lower in these areas so that one has to step up to a 20 cm high platform to use the toilet. The NPM requested that this glaring example of bad planning be corrected and that safe and barrier-free use of the toilet facilities be ensured. The management of the facility assured the NPM that this criticism would be promptly passed on to the construction manager. Glaring example of bad planning of new building 147