Prisoners who were employed at the Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) were paid over 319.000 euros for their work, according to the institution's annual report.
As the document states, they also worked in carpentry, locksmithing, electricians, auto mechanics, tailors, and electrical workshops, on farms, in external and internal maintenance of facilities, in the boiler room, kitchen, warehouse, prison store, and they also performed the duties of wardens.
"They were entitled to compensation in the amount of at least 30 percent of the minimum net wage, so that during the year a total of 319.455 euros was paid in compensation for work, or 26.621,25 euros on average on a monthly basis," the official UIKS report states.
In the reporting year, in the Women's Department of the Long-Term Prison, there were 19 prisoners on support, and 11 of them were employed in hygiene maintenance, laundry, and tailoring workshops.
“At the end of 2024, a total of 1.191 people were housed in UIKS - 544 convicted and 647 detained. During the year, 1.983 people were admitted and 1.889 people were released,” the report states. The competent courts approved conditional release for 296 convicted persons.
In addition to Montenegrins, UIKS also registered 405 foreign citizens among the newly admitted - 175 convicted and 230 detained persons.
Most property crimes
The most common crimes committed by the convicted were property crimes - 274 of them, according to the UIKS report.
This is followed by criminal offenses against marriage and family, for which 205 people were convicted, 163 against people's health, 103 against public order and peace, and 76 each against life and body and against the freedom and rights of man and citizen.
There are 53 people convicted of crimes against public transport safety who are in that institution, 34 of them have committed crimes against state bodies, and 19 of them have committed crimes against payment transactions and business operations. 17 of them have been convicted of crimes against sexual freedom and against the general safety of people and property, as well as four of them who have committed crimes against the judiciary.
When it comes to misdemeanors, the most common were in the field of traffic safety - in 383 cases, and in 269 cases, the convicted replaced the fine with serving a prison sentence.
Among the most common offenses are violation of public order in 77 cases and domestic violence in 62 - the document from the institution states.
118 prisoners tested for HIV
The UIKS report also states that the year was marked by the continuation of work on the construction of a Special Health Institution for the implementation of security measures, mandatory psychiatric treatment and custody in a health institution, mandatory treatment of drug addicts and alcoholics, as well as the treatment of persons in UIKS who have acute mental illness.
During the year, over 16.000 inspections were conducted within UIKS and more than 2.000 external inspections.
"There were 153 people on buprenorphine therapy, while 14 of them were on methadone therapy. In cooperation with the KCCG infectious disease clinic, 118 prisoners were tested for HIV and hepatitis, of which 51 were positive, and 14 successfully completed treatment. Four deaths were recorded during the year, including one suicide, and a total of 52 individual cases of hunger strike," the report said.
The competent courts have sent 42 persons with imposed security measures of mandatory treatment for alcoholics or drug addicts to the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions, with final court decisions and imprisonment, of which 28 persons with imposed security measures of mandatory treatment for drug addicts and 14 persons with imposed security measures of mandatory treatment for alcoholics.
Daggers, phones, tablets seized
During 2024, UIKS officers conducted 1.343 searches of persons and premises, confiscated 1.749 prohibited items, most of which were tablets - 1.392, 98 mobile phones, 93 chargers, 33 daggers, 26 SIM cards and 11 mobile phone headsets...
"Due to non-compliance with the rules of conduct prescribed by the Rules of Conduct in the Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions and the Rules on the Detailed Method of Enforcement of Detention, 724 disciplinary proceedings were initiated against persons deprived of their liberty, 354 against detained persons and 370 against convicted persons. 632 disciplinary measures were imposed, of which 328 were imposed on detained persons and 304 on convicted persons. Six convicted persons were released from disciplinary liability, 27 proceedings were suspended because 14 prisoners were released from serving their prison sentences, and for 13 detainees, detention was terminated by a court decision, so the proceedings could not be fully implemented, and 59 proceedings were ongoing," the report states.
Security officers used coercive measures in nine cases - six against convicted persons and three against detained persons. These measures included the use of physical force, the use of hand-held spray with an irritant, and the use of restraints.
"Means of coercion were used mainly to provide active or passive resistance, fail to comply with verbal or other orders, prevent an attack on an official, and violent behavior," the UIKS report states.
At the beginning of the year, there were 442 employees in that institution, and at the end of 2024, there were 479.
As they explained, 68 new employees were hired during the year, while 31 left the service.
Last year, 14 disciplinary proceedings were initiated against UIKS officers, of which three proceedings were conducted for minor and 11 for serious violations of official duty.
"In the area of cooperation with the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, UIKS acted on 2024 complaints from persons deprived of their liberty in 34 - 28 individual and six collective", and they related to health care, material conditions, treatment status of prisoners, the work of security officers and other matters", the report of that institution states.
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