solitary confinement, as well as with several other inmates and the prisoners’ coresponsibility body. It inspected the files of several inmates who were accommodated in solitary confinement. The capacity of the prison was 553 places on the visiting day. It was occupied with 487 inmates in the closed section. Positive findings The Commission took note of the gratifyingly low number of fixations (2010 none, 2011 one, 2012 one so far). It is exemplary that fixation with a belt system takes place on a hospital bed which is located in the prison infirmary. This guarantees that the fixed persons can be provided with medical care. The Joint Commission gained the impression that the atmosphere between the inmates and the officers was relaxed and friendly, which also became clear in talks both with the inmates and with staff. In this context, the Commission welcomed the fact that all the officers in the prison wear name badges. The Commission was also pleased that solitary confinement is not implemented in a separate area of the prison, but that inmates are able to remain in their cells in the respective wing. Recommendations of the Joint Commission and the reaction of the RhinelandPalatinate Ministry of Justice and for Consumer Protection Because of the panoptic construction, out-of-cell time is only implemented in a more modern department which has separate floors. Out-of-cell time is also to be introduced in the other departments, as is also possible in other similar detention facilities. Reaction: The recommendation had been examined. Out-of-cell time was however not viable in the departments of the prison mentioned since they had open floors which were not separated. General out-of-cell time would entail considerable risks to security and order. It was furthermore not possible to maintain an overview of where each inmate was in departments with up to 130 inmates. The RhinelandPalatinate Ministry of Justice stated by letter dated 17 December 2012 that implementation was refused. In accordance with section 143 subsection (2) of the Prison Act, the penal institutions are to be organised in such a manner that inmates can be formed into groups which can be kept under supervision for care and treatment in order to offer inmates a social learning environment. Several hours’ locking up of inmates together per day cannot replace detention in accommodation groups. Locking up inmates together is a measure in which inmates are left to their own devices without supervision, and is hence problematic as a resocialisation measure. The Joint Commission hence recommended to set the stage for detention in accommodation groups. 47