| 79 • that the institutions under the Prison and Probation Service ensure precise and adequate documentation in the records and ensure continuous quality control • that the Department of Prisons and Probation considers drawing up guidelines on the prevention of adverse psychological effects as a consequence of placement in a disciplinary cell • that healthcare staff are informed of inmates placed in disciplinary cells Authority to use body scanners to be provided: During a monitoring visit to the Maximum Security Department of Slagelse Psychiatric Hospital (‘Sikringsafdelingen’) the visiting team were informed that visitors had to go through a body scanner. The Ombudsman raised the question of the authority to use body scanners with the Ministry of Health. The Ministry informed the Ombudsman that authority to use body scanners would be provided under the Mental Health Act. See the Ombudsman’s specific recommendations (extracts) in the tables on pages 80-89. The Prison and Probation Service looks into the procedure for inmates’ correspondence with the Department: A complaint made the Ombudsman aware that the Department of Prisons and Probation had sent a letter to an inmate via the prison. The prison staff printed out the e-mail with the letter and put the letter in an envelope for the inmate. The Ombudsman started an investigation of this practice. The Department would look into the procedure for correspondence with inmates and ensure that inmates can correspond unmonitored with the Department regarding, for instance, complaints about the staff’s behaviour towards the inmates. The Ombudsman then concluded his investigation. Cases concluded in 2019 in relation to monitoring activities 12 own-initiative cases were concluded in 2019. Eight of these cases were opened in direct continuation of monitoring visits. Two of the cases resulted in criticism and informal recommendations, respectively. In addition, 21 cases on suicide attempts, deaths etc. in institutions under the Prison and Probation Service or in police custody were concluded in 2019. Three of the cases resulted in criticism. Selected investigations The correct doctor’s certificate must be completed before placement in detention cell: A man died while placed in a detention cell for intoxicated persons. In the police car on the way to the detention cell, he was briefly examined by a doctor but no doctor’s certificate was completed. The Ombudsman looked into what requirements apply to a medical examination and the use of a doctor’s certificate before persons are placed in a detention cell for intoxicated persons. The Danish National Police stated, among other things, that steps would be taken to ensure that all police districts use the Danish Medical Association’s doctor’s certificate form, which sets out the medical examinations which the doctor must perform. The Ombudsman then concluded his investigation. Gang members must be heard before transfer: 33 inmates complained about having been transferred to another prison section because they had biker or other gang affiliations. The Ombudsman opened a general case on the processing of such cases. The Ombudsman found it regrettable that the inmates had not been heard in all instances and that the rules on, among other things, the duty to take notes had not been observed in all instances. The basis for the Department’s identification of inmates as gang-affiliated did not otherwise give the Ombudsman cause for comment.

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents