paternal and maternal), uncles (maternal and paternal), aunts, cousins, also a person with who a convict lived with in a same household for a year before imprisonment). It is worth noting that according to an amendment to the Imprisonment Code of April 16, 2014 (21 part was added to Article 17 of the Code), a convict has the right to meet with an individual who does not fall in the above mentioned circle upon a consent of a head of the penitentiary department. The amendment will contribute positively to a resocialization process of convicts. The Imprisonment Code regulates matters related to the right of convicts to shortterm visits. More specifically, according to Article 61, Paragraph B a convict serving in a semi-closed institution has the right to two short-term visits per month and to one more short-term visit as an incentive. Article 64, Clause 1, Article B grants the right to a convict serving in a closed institution to have one short-term visit per month, while additional visit may be allowed as a form of an incentive. The Imprisonment Code also regulates the right of women and juvenile offenders to short-term visitations. According to Article 72, Part 3, female convicts have the right to 3 short-term visits per month and one additional short-term visit as an incentive. According to Article 70, Part 2, Paragraph A, a juvenile offender has the right to 4 short-term visits per months and two additional short-term visits per month as an incentive. According to Article 17, Part VII of the Imprisonment Code of Georgia a long-term visit should be implemented under solely a visual control. Exceptions are allowed only under the terms stipulated by the Georgian legislation. Article 50 of the Decree 97 of the Minister of Corrections of Georgia defines the terms for short term visits. More specifically, short term-visits are allowed in specially designated rooms. Based on the specifics of an institution, visits may take place as a face to face meetings through glass partitions. It is worth noting that in most penitentiary institutions such visits are implemented in spaces with glass partitions. In such cases prisoners are deprived opportunities for physical contacts with their family members. Exceptions may be allowed upon a consent of a director of an institution when such circumstances as a convict’s severe health condition, meeting with an underage child of a convict arise. Although physical partitions are necessary for specific cases, it is important to acknowledge physical contact a norm. In addition, any decision on restricting physical contacts must be reasonable, justified and proportionate to the reason behind such restrictions. Importantly, decisions to restrict physical contact must be subject to regular revisions. Otherwise such interference in prisoners’ personal and family affairs shall not be justifiable. 142 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM OF GEORGIA