a free-drug unit and operates as therapeutic community for inmates committed to overcome their drug and alcohol addictions. Section «H» accommodates inmates that work in the prison (there are other working inmates lodged in different sections) providing maintenance services, cleaning services, laundry and typography services. This prevents such inmates from circulating in the main building’s area. In respect to the detention conditions, the accommodation areas located in the basement of the main building were visited (sections «A» to «F»). All cells of section «A» basement are occupied by two inmates and have windows that allow ventilation and natural light. Artificial light is centrally switched off at 22:00. It was observed that the calling system does not work. The cells appear to be cold and damp. Privacy when using the toilet in the cells is not sufficiently safeguarded: the toilet is separated from the cell area by a partition of about 1 meter height. The cells located in section «B» basement have the same conditions of those located in section «A» but with less sun light due to the geographical orientation. The disciplinary area, in the basement of the section «C», was empty at the time of the visit since during the holiday season the enforcement of disciplinary sanction is not initiated. The cells of the disciplinary area have poor natural lighting. The toilets – squat type – presented poor cleaning conditions. In one of the cells, the hand basin water tap was significantly damaged. The common areas of section «C» are monitored by video surveillance and the calling system was functioning when tested. In general, the disciplinary cells are cold, show significant signs of humidity and present poor cleaning conditions. The admission sector is located in the basement of section «D», composed of double occupancy cells. The calling system is not operational. In one of the visited cells, one glass was lacking in the window. In another cell, there was no lamp, which means that during the night the inmates cannot use artificial lighting (the director explained that often the inmates break the lamps themselves and added that the carpentry workshop is developing a wood protection for the light bulbs). The pavement of the cells is in poor condition. Some toilets (squat type) were in poor cleaning conditions. The calling system is not functioning. One of the inmates referred that in one occasion he needed assistance during the night and knocked on the door of his cell in order to draw attention of the prison guards, but no one answered. The cells show signs of humidity and have the characteristic smell of a damp atmosphere. Security conditions are the same as in other sections. The admission sector is located in section «D» that also accommodates younger inmates and inmates serving short-term sentences. The basement of section «E» has the worst living conditions, with severely degraded pavement, high humidity and saltpetre on the walls as well as an unpleasant smell. In one of the cells the toilet was malfunctioning and water was constantly running from the toilet tank. In another cell, the sink was clogged. In section «E» each cell is occupied by three inmates. 68 |