to now have access to the information sheets. 3. Berlin youth prison in April 2011 The Commission of the Länder visited Berlin youth prison on 7 April 2011. The youth prison has 547 detention places and held a total of 450 persons on 6 April 2011 (351 criminal inmates, 99 remand detainees). The visit focussed on the criminal detention and remand detention wings, the admissions area, the specially-secured cells containing no dangerous objects, the disciplinary detention and separation area, the medical department, the social therapy department, the specialist drug department, the visiting area and the outside facilities. The Commission of the Länder had talks with the prison governor, the director of the social therapeutic department, several other staff members as well as the local representative of the prison union. Furthermore, several individual talks were held with inmates of various wings. The prison made an extremely un-cared-for, in some cases completely dirty, neglected impression, as stated below. This is particularly problematic for a youth prison since young people in particular are to be encouraged to engage in order and cleanliness. Recommendations of the Commission of the Länder Metal handcuffs and footcuffs are used as fixation tools. These are unsuitable because of the high risk of injury. The Commission of the Länder recommends to use a system of belts. It is furthermore recommended to order direct supervision by an officer for fixation. The specially-secured cell was in an unhygienic, disgusting state at the time of the visit: The foam mattress is used without a covering. It had many indefinable stains and was covered with dead insects. The toilet and the drinking water fountain were completely filthy. Reaction of the Senate Administration of Justice of the Land Berlin The Senate Administration only made a statement regarding the place for keeping the metal handcuffs and footcuffs. The fixation tools themselves were not mentioned. It was stated that efforts were being made to It was stated that efforts were being made to reduce the number of fixations. reduce the number of fixations. The Senate Administration stated that the hygienic shortcomings had now been remedied. The prison had been instructed by letter of 23 June 2011 to implement the necessary maintenance work within six weeks. The desolate condition of the speciallysecured cell is to be regarded as all the more grievous given that the documents presented make it clear that it is used frequently and that people are kept there against their will. This form of dirt can be considered to be a violation of human dignity. Because of the frequent use that was ascertained, the prison governor should definitely 42