efforts be made to recruit more staff. 319. The Subcommittee recommends that the State party develop policy proposals aimed at addressing the special needs of women in prison. The Subcommittee considers that the treatment of women in prison should be guided not only by the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and other specific guidelines for prisons, but also by all applicable international human rights instruments. In addition to the international standards, States should also comply with the relevant regional standards. 320. The Subcommittee recommends that Mexico provide sufficient budget allocations, training and awareness-raising to enable the sentence enforcement courts to operate effectively throughout the country and thus give effect to article 21 of the Mexican Constitution, which created them. The Subcommittee also recommends that consideration be given to the possibility that these judicial bodies might carry out a regulated legal procedure in respect of conditions of detention, transfer of prisoners, and review and duration of administrative sanctions and penalties. 321. Because the State is ultimately responsible for violations of the human rights of private individuals that may be committed in places of detention, the Subcommittee recommends that appropriate action be taken in each place of detention, following a situation, risk and opportunity assessment, to eliminate situations that may create a risk of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. In the light of the foregoing and in the interests of prevention, the Subcommittee recommends an immediate review of the condition of prisoners in cell block No. 19 and other similar areas at the Santa María Ixcotel Prison in Oaxaca, where there is a situation of extreme overcrowding. 322. The Subcommittee recommends that special attention be given to the problem of overpopulation and overcrowding and that the State party make every effort to improve conditions for people deprived of their liberty. The Subcommittee urges the State party to draw up an action plan and prioritize the allocation of budgetary resources for the improvement of detention facilities across the country. 323. The Subcommittee recommends increasing the staff of places of detention in order to ensure overall security in such places and to protect officers and prisoners from possible violent acts by other prisoners. The Subcommittee recommends that, in accordance with the minimum international standards, the staff of places of detention should receive adequate remuneration and be given general and specialized training and that they should undergo theoretical and practical testing to assess their ability to perform their duties. 324. The Subcommittee recommends that all detention facilities should have disciplinary regulations that stipulate (a) the actions that constitute disciplinary offences; (b) the nature and duration of any disciplinary sanctions imposed; and (c) the official authorized to impose such sanctions. 325. The Subcommittee recommends strengthening the implementation of the Istanbul Protocol by ensuring independent, prompt and thorough investigations and by ensuring that the professionals who render medical and psychological opinions belong to forensic medicine institutes with demonstrated independence and that independent expert testimony be admitted at relevant stages of legal proceedings in accordance with the applicable criteria for judicial examination. 326. The Subcommittee recommends that appropriate action be taken in all detention facilities to eliminate any situations that might create a risk of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. In particular, the Subcommittee recommends that an immediate review be conducted of the condition of prisoners in cell block No. 19 and other similar areas at the Santa María Ixcotel Prison in Oaxaca, where there is a situation of extreme overcrowding. 327. The Subcommittee recommends that record-keeping systems in prisons be improved. 328. In order to improve physical conditions in prisons, the Subcommittee recommends the following: All accommodation provided for the use of prisoners should have adequate ventilation and heating, as appropriate (Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, rule 10) All accommodation provided for the use of prisoners should have natural light, fresh air and adequate artificial light (Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, rule 11) The sanitary installations should be clean and decent (Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, rule 12) Adequate bathing and shower installations should be provided (Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, rule 13) Prisoners should be provided with necessary toilet articles (Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, rule 15) Every prisoner should be provided with a separate bed and with separate and sufficient bedding (Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, rule 19) Prisoners should be provided with food that is of wholesome quality and well prepared and served and with drinking water (Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, rule 20) 329. The Subcommittee recommends that the State party develop a public programme aimed at combating corruption in prisons. The Subcommittee also urges the State party to take steps to increase the number of employees who supervise the conduct of police and prison personnel.