diagnosing physical or mental illness and taking all measures necessary for its treatment and for
the continuation of existing medical treatment; isolating inmates suspected of infectious or
contagious conditions for the period of infection and providing them with proper treatment;
making arrangements with community agencies for the continuation of any necessary medical
treatment after release;
III.
Steps must be taken to ensure that on release inmates are provided, as necessary, with
appropriate documents and identification papers and assisted in finding suitable
accommodation and work. Released inmates shall also be provided with immediate means of
subsistence, be suitably and adequately clothed with regard to the climate and season and have
sufficient means to reach their destination.
The PC-CP WG would like also to draw the attention of the prison services of the Council of Europe
member States to the paper: “COVID19 - IPS Basic Guide for Decision-Makers working in the criminal
justice sector on Worldwide Practices and Recommendations” which contains a number of practical
advice tips which, depending on the national law and practice could be adapted to the situation in
different countries in full respect of the relevant international standards and principles. The PC-CP WG
further draws the attention to some practices introduced by prison services in Europe (based on the
information collected by the European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris) in
relation to the handling of COVID-19 pandemic by its members):
Clear information is provided orally and, if possible, also in writing to all inmates and staff and
all efforts are made to provide all necessary explanations in relation to this in order to avoid
tensions and ensure understanding and co-operation from all sides. Publication of FAQs on
prison service websites and /or establishing a helpline to answer questions of families of inmates
is organised;
At admission and before release inmates are accommodated in single cells even where normally
in the rest of the prison wings, they may share cells or be in a multiple cell accommodation.
Additional efforts are made to accommodate as few inmates as possible in a shared
accommodation;
Where probation staff works inside prison, during COVID-19 they identify vulnerable inmates
and work in priority with them - otherwise as a general rule, it was reported that due to sanitary
concerns, visits in many countries by probation staff to prisons are cancelled;
In some countries inmates are escorted to outside medical units for COVID-19 tests in case of
requests or indication of contamination, in other countries a mobile health unit comes to the
prison to take test samples in case of need;
Disinfectants and other sanitary equipment are provided and staff wears masks, gloves and
sometimes other protective equipment (glasses, aprons, suits, mostly in case of tested positive
inmates or in case this relates to medical staff) when in contact with inmates to avoid
contamination going both directions (including cell and bodily searches, escorting and
transportation of inmates);
In some countries body temperature of inmates, visitors and staff is being taken daily;
Staff is divided in shifts/teams in a manner that the different teams/shifts do not come in contact
with each other and the duration of the shifts is shortened in the units where staff is in direct
contact with inmates in order to relieve the pressure on staff;
Additional support by staff psychologists and counselling are offered to all staff in need;
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