The problem of overcrowding in the Spuž Remand Prison remains a key challenge, with negative consequences for the living conditions, healthcare and overall well-being of detainees, according to the report on the work of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (NPT) for last year.
The NPM visited the Remand Prison on several occasions in November and December and reviewed the treatment in the areas of material conditions and health care.
The NPM Report, which was submitted to the Parliament, states that, although detainees are generally satisfied with the treatment by staff and nutrition, it is evident that the lack of space and limited access to fresh air affects the quality of life, increases stress and the risk of conflict.
The Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) said that there is room in prisons to accommodate 1.393 arrested people.
"The existing accommodation capacities for prisoners meet current needs, while the number of detainees is slightly higher than the available accommodation capacities," UIKS told the MINA agency.
As they explained, the lack of capacity is currently being overcome by placing a certain number of detainees in the Short Sentence Prison, while a certain number have been transferred to the detention unit of the Bijelo Polje Prison.
The problem of accommodation capacities was supposed to be solved by building a prison in Mojkovac, but the Ministry of Justice questions the justification for its construction, especially considering the accommodation capacities for only 200 detainees and 120 employees, which is a disproportionately small number compared to the total prison population in Montenegro.
The Report on the Work and Situation in the Administrative Areas of the Ministry of Justice for last year stated that the cost of building the prison in Mojkovac increased from an estimated 15 million to 38,5 million EUR.
"The distance of Mojkovac from judicial institutions, the security aspect, the distance from the main road, the terrain configuration, as well as the location for the construction of the prison, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the Tara River, which requires work in the riverbed itself and the construction of a water fortress to raise the level of the bank and prevent flooding of the facility, as well as other side projects, greatly affect the increase in the value of the prison construction," the report states.
There is also the issue of providing professional staff for the tasks required by such a complex.
UIKS also said that the current staff shortage in terms of the number of employees is being overcome thanks to the special organization and work of all employees in the Administration, which ensures that all legally prescribed obligations within the scope of work of that state body are fulfilled.
The NPM team noted in its report that hygienic conditions and the state of infrastructure are not at a satisfactory level – especially with regard to the conditions in rooms, sanitary facilities and shower cubicles, and that the lack of personal space and privacy further worsens the psychological state of detainees.
As stated, in the Remand Prison, where detained persons have not been convicted and there are no rehabilitation programs, psychological pressure can be particularly pronounced.
"It is therefore important to provide at least basic forms of psychological support, improve health care, and enable regular outdoor activities, in accordance with the Rulebook, in order to mitigate the negative psychological effects of detention," the report added.
It is emphasized that suicide prevention in prisons is a key segment of protecting the rights of detainees and convicts, given that the suicide rate in prison conditions is often higher than in the general population.
The NPM team stated in its report that detainees in UIKS occasionally wait longer for medical examinations, which is particularly concerning for people with chronic illnesses.
UIKS told the MINA agency that the construction of the Special Health Institution, which is located within the prison complex, has reached 65 percent completion.
"Its construction is expected to significantly relieve the capacity of the Administration, especially in terms of the execution of security measures imposed in conjunction with prison sentences, but also in terms of the overall treatment of persons with specific health needs," said UIKS.
As they emphasized, in addition to the construction of the Special Hospital, special attention has been paid to strengthening human resources in the previous period.
"Currently, the Health Care Sector employs a significantly larger number of officers, which indicates an improvement in the area of protecting the rights of persons deprived of their liberty in relation to health care," UIKS stated.
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