Penitentiary System - Reforms and Results

• Normative base of the penitentiary system improved with the adoption of the Imprisonment Code;

• 9 penitentiary establishments built, 4 renovated and 2 – abolished;

• Two penitentiary establishments abolished;

• Already 90 percent of inmate population reside in modernly designed facilities  commensurate with European standards;

• Construction of penitentiary establishment in the village of Laituri (Ozurgeti Municipality) launched, designed to replace 4 outmoded establishments;

• Public Reception put into operation providing a wide range of speedy and qualified services to any visitor to the penitentiary system;

• Comprehensive reform ongoing with the goal of improving medical services;

• Nutrition ration of inmates improved;

• Long-term family visits introduced and appropriate hotel-type infrastructure built;

• Video-conferencing service operational allowing any person to have direct visual and audio contact with inmates at a distance;

• Educational-rehabilitation centers set up offering inmates vocationally-oriented training courses;

• Inmates’ preparation for release programmes pioneered;

• Psychosocial rehabilitation programme “Atlantis” for drug-addicted inmates underway;

• Illicit drug circulation in the Georgian penitentiary system completely eradicated;

• Educational programmes and individual approach towards pre-trial and convicted juvenile inmates developed;

• Small enterprises operational offering paid employment to inmates;

• Shops running in every penitentiary establishment;

• Multilingual brochures on inmates’ rights and communication guides for foreign national inmates were published in 7 languages;

• Continuous basic training and retraining provided to staff in the field of effective communication, stress and aggression management.


Penitentiary Healthcare Service - Reforms and Results

• Medical Department’s budget for 2012 is 70 times the size of the budget for 2004;

• The number of medical staff within the system grew by 30 percent;

• Primary healthcare centres set up in 9 establishments;

• Medical establishments equipped with up-to-date digital medical technologies;

• Multidisciplinary mental health service created;

• Tuberculosis Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre built.

• Licence granted to Medical Establishment N18.

• Physician-recommended dietary menus available in all penitentiary establishments;

• Licence granted to pharmacies of penitentiary establishments;

• Unified inpatient/outpatient care medical card introduced;

• Aversi pharmacies set up as an alternative service;

• Methadone replacement therapy centres set up;

• Modernly-equipped dental rooms operational in all penitentiary establishments;

• Up to 1000 inmates referred annually to civilian hospitals for further medical check-up and surgical treatment;

• Up to 1 000 000 GEL spent annually on diagnostic and treatment procedures for inmates in civilian hospitals;

• Up to 2000 specialist physicians annually invited for providing medical examinations and consultations;

• State Tuberculosis Treatment Program running smoothly;

• Prevalence of tuberculosis in the system down 52%;

• Screening for contagious diseases performed regularly within the system;

• Supervisory Board on Penitentiary Healthcare Reform set up, chaired by the First Lady.