Long-term Deprivation of Liberty The Araba/Alava prison has 5 observation cells which, according to the informa­ tion given, are used in exceptional cases for inmates with regimental limitations pursuant to Article 75.1 of Prison Regulations and personal protection measures in accordance with article 75.2, and also for exceptional cases of solitary confine­ ment and precautionary measures. These cells are located in the secure detention module, which was not fully operational due to lack of personnel. Two of the four buildings that comprise the module consist of three adjacent cells. The interior of the cells on either side of the middle cell can be viewed through the windows of the latter, which is occupied by an inmate assistant guard. A third building con­ sists of one observation cell plus the inmate assistant guard’s cell. The observa­ tion cells do not have any furniture or space for belongings. Inmates are not al­ lowed to have any personal belongings in these cells, not even basic personal hygiene products, and sometimes not even sheets. In one corner, without any type of privacy, there is a toilet consisting of a metal plate on the floor and an opening in the wall from which water flows. The observation cell is for an inmate in charge of watching over the inmates residing in the observation cells and using the intercom to call the staff member in the cabin in case of need. At the Araba/Alava prison the observation cells are used in exceptional cases Two pictures of one of the observation cells at the Photograph 19 Photograph 18 Araba/Alava prison THE OMBUDSMAN OF SPAIN 95