Convicts who use the benefits of the weekend with their family cannot leave the prison until the danger of the coronavirus has passed, visits are prohibited, and money can only be paid to those behind bars by mail.
These are some of the measures taken by the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS), which adopted a crisis plan for work and security in case of the appearance of the disease Covid-19 behind bars.
The UIKS Public Relations Service told "News" that they are in daily communication with the Institute for Public Health and the Ministry of Health and that they are taking all measures and actions in accordance with the recommendations of the Coordination Team in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"Keeping in mind the delicacy of this issue, the authorities in the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions adopted the Crisis Work and Security Plan in the event of the occurrence of the Covid-19 disease in the Administration, which, among other things, dealt with the issues of protection of all persons engaged in work at UIKS, as well as the issue of disinfection of all UIKS premises. In the following period, visits to prisoners will not be approved (with the exception of visits to lawyers and court experts with the approval of the court), nor benefits related to enabling release from prison on any basis, while deposit payments to persons deprived of their liberty will be made exclusively by mail. , they clarified.
They explained that the Department for Health Care of UIKS during health examinations of prisoners, as well as newly admitted ones, pays extra attention in order to recognize the mentioned disease and familiarize those persons with the need for increased attention when it comes to hygiene.
"Persons who are suspected of having flu symptoms will stay in separate rooms, where prison doctors and medical staff will monitor their state of health in accordance with the instructions of the Institute for Public Health...Procedures for the actions of employees in the event of recognizing symptoms that characterize the coronavirus are foreseen as with employees, as well as with persons deprived of their liberty, and the measures that must be taken in mutual daily communication between employees and prisoners/detainees", said UIKS.
They claim that, in addition, all employees and prisoners are invited to take measures in accordance with the orders and recommendations of the Government and the Ministry of Health in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and the Crisis Plan recognizes the need for other measures:
"Which are continuously undertaken in order to preserve the health of our employees, persons deprived of their liberty, and all persons residing in the territory of our country and beyond... The authorities in the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions will, in cooperation with the Coordination Body, the Institute for Public Health and others , strive to make their maximum contribution in overcoming the coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19), which represents a global challenge that all countries face".
"We are sentenced to prison, not the death penalty"
The Covid-19 virus also scared the prisoners, who in a letter submitted to "Vijesti" claim that they are faced with the additional problem of helplessness behind bars.
That is why the prisoners from Spuz appealed again for the adoption of the amnesty law, which would significantly reduce the number of those behind bars.
"It is enough for anyone to introduce the virus into the prison premises, so that the disease spreads to all the prisoners. If we add to that the fact that there are more than 500 prisoners serving their prison sentences in the Penitentiary, who, in such a small space with limited movement and residence, have no chance to prevent or avoid contact with potential carriers of the virus, this foreshadows the arrival of an imminent humanitarian disaster." , the prisoners wrote.
They claim that there are many chronic patients among them, for whom Covid-19 would lead to catastrophic consequences.
Convicts from the KP Dom also fear that officers, who do not have protective equipment, can bring the virus into the prison every day:
"Because of all this, we appeal to the humanity of the structures that have the legal authority to meet us, so that the number of imprisoned people is reduced and we prevent our mass illness. If human life is the greatest wealth, then this opportunity is not only a chance, but also a conscientious obligation of the Government to help convicted persons who fear for their lives, because we are sentenced to prison, but not to the death penalty".
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