The signs of abandonment are visible, partially due to the fatigue of the prisoners, who are called upon to put in several hours of
work into maintenance, to the extent that is absolutely necessary, and the minimum operation of the prison's units (the case of
the Rural Prison of Agia).
The apparent absence of central planning for the management and development of all capabilities of cultivation and production
offered by this land can completely negate the justification behind the institution of Rural Prisons, and establish in the collective
social consciousness the expressed distorted and disorienting view that these are 'ghost' detention facilities, for the privileged
prisoners. An exception to the smooth, in principle, operation and the living conditions of the prisoners appears to be the case of
the Rural Prison of Tirintha.
Following the findings of the NPM during the above visits in 2015, a new recommendation is made that the decline of the Rural
Prisons must be stopped, by conceding part of their land for other purposes, and there must be strategic planning and
modernisation of their logistics infrastructure while their regulations of operation must be drawn up promptly (with
clarification, inter alia, of the criteria for the transition from the "closed part" status, to the day-release status, as well as the
procedures for the assignment of work). All of the above issues remain an imperative and indisputable priority.
There is also need to:
• Ensure the immediate (as regards drawing up the Regulations of Operation) and in general the regular convocation of meetings and
the smooth functioning of the Central Scientific Council of Prisons, according to Article 8 of the Penitentiary Code, a need which of
course is encountered in all the issues that fall under the competence of this body.
• Display particular attention to the application and compliance with the requirements for transfer to the Rural Prisons by the competent
bodies, on terms of transparency, in the direction of supporting the Rural Prison institution in the long-term.
• Provide sufficient information to all prisoners about the legal requirements for transfer and the detention status in the Rural
prisons.
• Search for collaborations, e.g. with universities, aiming at the healthy development and performance of the land of the Rural Prisons, and all
the production capabilities, through the effective contribution of the prisoners, which, hopefully, would be combined with attending related
educations and vocational programmes that would be organised in the prisons on a permanent basis or in a potential collaboration with the
Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED).
• Investigate the possibility for disconnecting the sale prices of the products and goods produced by the rural prisons from the market
prices, to facilitate the sale of these products at a lower price.
• Extend the regulation of Art. 1(1)(c) of Presidential Decree 60/2015 to employees in bakeries and the (existing) pastry workshops of all
rural detention facilities.
• Extend the regulation of Art. 1(1)(c) of Presidential Decree 60/2015 to prisoner employees, in any position, that are over the age of 70.
The recent regulations of Article 41 of Law 4356/2015 are found to be especially positive, to the extent that the requirements for
transfer to rural prisons are broadened, but also to the extent that public sector agencies are given the opportunity of direct
assignment, following negotiation, for the supply of goods or products, to detention facilities that have rural or craft work units.
Detention of minors – Special Detention Facility for Juveniles of Corinth
The Ombudsman once more this year repeated its firm positions and proposals to restrict the detention of minors, in combination
with taking legislative steps for a more mild penal treatment of minors for specific crimes, and also to establish structures with a
welfare/educational character and the possibility of a differentiated treatment of minors depending on their personality and
progress (especially with the promotion of the regulations for the Juvenile Care Facilities and the practical support of the role of
juveniles' monitors) . Finally, in the cases of drug addict juveniles that commit crimes related to the use and trafficking of
substances, the view was expressed that there should be provision for their placement in therapeutic facilities (see "Legislative
and organisational proposals"). The new law 4322/2015 restricted the imposition of penal correction to minors only to cases of
crimes where there is provision for a life sentence penalty or of article 336 of the Criminal Code (rape) against a person younger
than 15, repealed the provisional detention for all crimes except the above, while a legislative committee was also established in
the Ministry of justice to draft a bill for Juvenile Care Units, regulations which the NPM estimates are a step in the right direction.
During the visit to the Special Detention Facility for Juveniles of Corinth (15-18 years old) in February 2015, we found, among
other things, that remand and sentenced prisoners were detained together, there were no vocational training programmes and
legal consultation programs being implemented, there was no recreational area, worn mattresses, etc. It is also noted that the
lack of any isolation of the toilet from the rest of the cell is assessed as a particularly problematic fact, from the aspect of human
dignity. The existence and use of isolation cells in the Facility is also deemed to be problematic, especially as regards the
suitability of these spaces for minors, as well as the functional link between the measure and the intended purpose.
The Ombudsman recommended a number of improvements for the Facility, such as suitable design and equipment of the
existing spaces, creation of recreational halls and library, organisation and systematic implementation of programmes in
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