involved and, if they are sentenced, the time to be served and the possibilities of early
release.
Executive Penal Code (Dz.U. of 1997, No 90, item 557, as amended)
Art. 79b (1) A convict admitted to a prison shall be placed in a temporary cell for a
necessary period, however no longer than 14 days, to (…) make him familiar with basic legal
acts concerning the execution of a sentence of deprivation of liberty and the house rules of
the prison (…).
§ 3. A convict shall be informed on the calculated period of serving the sentence.
Acknowledgment of this information shall be confirmed by a convict's signature.
Each time the persons conducting the visits analysed the access of persons
deprived of liberty to information on house rules of a given establishment, as well as
their rights and obligations. In the majority of visited units, House Rules had been
edited in a clear manner (e.g. PDC in Środa Wielkopolska, PDC in Koszalin, Prison in
Hrubieszów).While visiting cells, NPM representatives verified whether prisoners
were in possession of House Rules texts, particularly in temporary cells. The House
Rules were found missing in certain temporary cells of the Prison in Rzeszów.
Prisons in Goleniów and Rzeszów-Załęże were recommended to increase funds
for the purchase of new books, including updated Executive Penal Codes, to libraries.
During the inspection of establishments it was found that each library contained copies
of outdated Executive Penal Code of 2003 and 2006.
NPM representatives also postulated the provision of access to regulations
concerning the sentence of deprivation of liberty and translated to foreign languages to
foreigners, alongside with extracts from the Executive Penal Code (e.g. PDC
Warszawa-Grochów).
National Preventive Mechanism also recommended to inform prisoners (e.g. as
part of cultural education classes) about legal and practical effects of the judgments of
the Constitutional Tribunal or the European Court of Human Rights in cases directly
concerning persons deprived of liberty (PDC in Wejherowo, Prison in RzeszówZałęże, Prison in Goleniów). Directors of penitentiary units positively responded to
such recommendations.
5. Right to lodge complaints
Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners [New York 1984]
Rule 36.1 Every prisoner shall have the opportunity each week day of making requests or
complaints to the director of the institution or the officer authorized to represent him.
2. It shall be possible to make requests or complaints to the inspector of prisons during his
inspection. The prisoner shall have the opportunity to talk to the inspector or to any other
inspecting officer without the director or other members of the staff being present.
3. Every prisoner shall be allowed to make a request or complaint, without censorship as to
substance but in proper form, to the central prison administration, the judicial authority or
other proper authorities through approved channels.
4. Unless it is evidently frivolous or groundless, every request or complaint shall be promptly
dealt with and replied to without undue delay.
2nd General Report of CPT [CPT/Inf (92)3]
§ 54 Effective grievance and inspection procedures are fundamental safeguards against illtreatment in prisons. Prisoners should have avenues of complaint open to them both within
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