4.7 Visits to prisons Total Adopted Rejected Realised No data Legenda Število priporočil 108 44 8 56 0 General In 2016, we visited 7 out of a total of 14 locations of internal organisational units of the Prison Administration of the Republic of Slovenia of the Ministry of Justice in the form of prisons or their units, i.e. Celje Prison and Juvenile Prison, Dob pri Mirni Prison (where we conducted a control visit), Ljubljana Prison, Nova Gorica Unit of Koper Prison, Maribor Prison, Murska Sobota Unit of Maribor Prison and Rogoza Open Unit of Maribor Prison. All visits with the exception of the visit to Maribor Prison (due to the attendance of a representative of the Austrian Ombudsman) were unannounced. Furthermore, all visits were implemented in one day, with the exception of visits to Ljubljana Prison and Maribor Prison. Representatives of contractual NGOs attended the visits to the above locations. Some visits were also attended by a contractual external expert/physician, which is evident from the reports on individual visits to institutions and their units. The visits were implemented according to the standard procedure: upon arrival, we first held a short introductory interview with the management of the prison, and then divided (in large prisons) into smaller groups (the Ombudsman’s representative and at least one representative of a contractual NGO); we inspected all premises (also auxiliary) and spoke with the staff and with prisoners who agreed to talk to us. At the end, relevant documentation was reviewed if necessary. Each visit ended with another discussion with the management of the prison, where we presented our main findings and obtained further information. The managements of prisons are well acquainted with our duties and powers, which made the implementation of visits smooth. After each visit, the group prepared a report on the findings, with recommendations or proposals for improving conditions, which was submitted to the Prison Administration of the Republic of Slovenia and the respective prisons. Regarding the institutions visited, we prepared 108 recommendations (including 6 recommendations which were drafted anew upon the control visit to Dob pri Mirni Prison). Some 56 recommendations were realised, 44 were accepted (and are waiting to be realised), and only 8 were rejected. As per the data on the official capacity of institutions, the number of people accommodated was exceeded in most of the prisons we visited. In this regard, we made 3 proposals, 2 of which were realised, and one was to be considered. Most recommendations referred to the equipment in institutions and units. Although the equipment is suitable, since it (still) ensures smooth implementation of rights and obligations of prisoners, it is nevertheless worn out, which is why our proposals particularly referred to the replacement of such equipment. We submitted 34 proposals, of which 19 were realised, 14 accepted for discussion, while only 1 was rejected. Regarding recreation areas, we made 8 proposals, 2 of which were realised, 4 accepted for consideration, and 2 rejected. We made 2 proposals about the prison shop, which have been already realised. Regarding the number of prisoners, the institutions had no problems with cleanliness (5 proposals were made, 2 of which were realised and 3 accepted for discussion), or providing good health care to prisoners (from a total of 10 proposals, 7 were implemented and 3 rejected). Food has also improved in prisons and their units, which prisoners usually commended during our visits (we made only 3 proposals, which have been already realised). Suitable work obligations and the possibilities of education are provided to prisoners by the institutions; the exploitation of these possibilities depends greatly on the willingness of prisoners (we submitted 9 proposals, 5 of which were accepted for discussion and 4 realised). Most of our proposals regarding the use of free time, prisoners’ activities and benefits (from a total of 13 proposals, 5 were implemented and 8 accepted for consideration) referred to more possibilities being provided by the institutions for prisoners to spend their free time. Prisoners were satisfactorily acquainted with their rights (from a total of 4 proposals, 2 were realised, 1 rejected and 1 accepted for discussion), which can be attributed to the enhanced use 146 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2016 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT