6. Monitoring Methodology > Previous complaints of SGBV from detainees/prisoners, staff, service providers, family members or other visitors, including any cases that resulted in court proceedings; > Assessing detainee/prisoner composition, levels of overcrowding, staffing levels and the chain of command; > Assessing recruitment procedures, staff training manuals and codes of conduct to examine staff vetting, diversity and equality of opportunity; and > Examining the extent to which authorities consider and use alternatives to detention for those deemed to be at risk of SGBV, including those with a past history of abuse. 6.3 Visiting the Facility The visit to the detention facility will probably be the main source of information for the monitoring team and is likely to include interviews with detainees/prisoners, management, staff and other stakeholders. Many monitoring mechanisms will also be mandated to inspect all areas of the facility and to consult detainee/prisoner files and registers. Some may be able to view CCTV footage and listen to audio recordings. Depending on their mandate, monitors in some countries may be able to plan unannounced visits. In deciding this they should weigh the opportunities and challenges relating to monitoring for SGBV. For example, unannounced visits reduce the opportunity for authorities to threaten survivors of SGBV. On the other hand, unannounced visits may make it more difficult to organize access for monitors who are specialized in SGBV. Monitors should also consider asking current and former detainees/prisoners and visitors if there are particular parts of the facility where they believe the risks of SGBV to be high and should make efforts to visit these locations accordingly. During visual inspections, it is important for monitors to visit all parts of a facility, to determine if there are places where the risk of SGBV might be particularly high – while keeping in mind that SGBV can occur anywhere and at any time. Chapter 8 of this document provides suggestions for such locations. A general tour of the premises can also give monitors a good impression of the overall culture of the facility, and enables them to get a better understanding of any detailed accounts of SGBV they later receive. 6.4 Interviewing Detainees/Prisoners When collecting Information about SGBV from detainees/prisoners, monitors should consider who they want to include, the sampling methodology and the best methods of obtaining the information. Most importantly, they should choose the methods that would be the safest and most appropriate, given the sensitive nature of the subject matter and the context in which they are operating, including the dominant culture or subculture within the facility. 26