PENITENTIARY ESTABLISHMENTS In 2020, the NMPT visited 23 penitentiary establishments: 15 prisons and 8 remand prisons. Three visits were held on-site127. Two of them aimed at verifying to what extent the recommendations issued to the Polish side by the CPT after its visit in 2017 had been implemented. 20 visits took place remotely, via Skype128. Their purpose was to monitor the epidemic-related situation in the penitentiary establishments in during the coronavirus pandemic. Detailed conclusions on the remote visits are included in the chapter "Penitentiary facilities in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic". • SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS Unfortunately, not all systemic problems occurring in penitentiary establishments have been solved. Many of them, although reported for several years, still exist. The NMPT is still waiting for the legislator to take appropriate legislative steps on the following issues: Small living space for inmates in cells For years 129, the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture has been calling on the authorities to introduce relevant legislative changes with the aim to increase the cell space per prisoner. According to the regulations applicable in Poland, an inmate is guaranteed a minimum of 3 m2 of cell area. The legislation also provides for the possibility to reduce this standard130. In such cases an individual is unable to function normally. The Polish standard is contrary to international standards and practices of most of the European countries131. Remand prisons: Warszawa-Białołęka (KMP.571.1.2020) and Warszawa-S��użewiec (KMP.571.27.2020); Prisons: ZK Biała Podlaska and OZ Zabłocie (KMP.571.28.2020). 127 Remand prisons: AŚ Łódź (KMP.571.4.2020) and AŚ Warszawa-Białołęka (KMP.571.5.2020); Prison ZK Potulice (KMP.571.8.2020); Remand prison AŚ Kraków (KMP.571.9.2020); Prison ZK Sztum (KMP.571.10.2020); Remand prison AŚ Wrocław (KMP.571.11.2020); Prison ZK Grudziądz nr 1 (KMP.571.12.2020); Prison ZK Krzywaniec (KMP.571.13.2020); Prison ZK Chełm (KMP.571.14.2020); Prison ZK Rzeszów-Załęże (KMP.571.15.2020); Remand prison AŚ Międzyrzecz (KMP.571.16.2020); Remand prison AŚ Białystok (KMP.571.17.2020); Prison ZK Nysa (KMP.571.19.2020); Prison ZK Jastrzębie-Zdrój (KMP.571.20.2020); Prison ZK Czarne (KMP.571.21.2020); Prison ZK Barczewo (KMP.571.22.2020); Prison ZK Głogów (KMP.571.23.2020); Prison ZK Bydgoszcz-Fordon (KMP.571.24.2020); Prison ZK Czerwony Bór (KMP.571.25.2020); Prison ZK Łupków (KMP.571.26.2020). 128 129 See: Annual Reports on the Activities of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture for 2017, 2018 and 2019. Article 110 of the Act of 6 June 1997 – Criminal Executive Code (Journal of Laws (Dz. U.) of 2020, item 523 as amended). 130 131 See: Report of the Commissioner of Human Rights on the activities of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in 2018. 58