III. PRISONERS WITH DISABILITIES Although imprisonment should be used as a last resort especially in cases when the person with disabilities is sentenced, there are many prisoners with disabilities in penal establishments. These include persons with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments. The problems that these persons face in community are magnified in prisons as prisons are unable to respond adequately to their needs. The main focus of the monitors should be whether the prisoners with disabilities are not discriminated against and special attention should be paid to the way the prison, with the closed and restricted environment as well as violence, is adapting to ensure that the disabling process is not accelerated and that prisoners with disabilities receive appropriate care. 1. International Standards   United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006); Arts. 4, 13, 14 and 15 in particular. European Prison Rules, Rules 13, 18, 28, 46 and 81.3 in particular. 2. Prison Policies  Has the prison service as a whole adopted a clear policy statement against the discrimination of prisoners with disabilities? Is this statement clearly displayed in all prison establishments? Has the prison developed dedicated policy and strategy on prisoners with disabilities? Has this policy and strategy been adopted in consultation with civil society organisations and services working with persons with disabilities? Did this development of the policy and strategy involve a needs assessment of prisoners with disabilities? Does this policy and strategy include the affirmative action to be undertaken by the prison? Does the prison undertake regular data collection and assessment on prisoners with disabilities so as to identify shortcomings as well as good practices?       3. Staff Training and Roles  Have the prison staff received initial and ongoing training on prisoners with disabilities including techniques of dealing with prisoners with disabilities when difficulties arise and effective supervision? Does this training include special emphasis on the prohibition of discrimination against prisoners with disabilities? Are staff trained to detect signs of distress in prisoners with disabilities? Is there a member of staff appointed to act as a contact for prisoners with disabilities?    11