For supporting relations of inmates with their family members and relatives, an additional type of visits has been introduced – long-term family visits.

 

Long-term visits are so far operational in №6 Prison and Semi-Open Type Penitentiary Establishment for Women, №11 Special Establishment for Juveniles, №14, №16 and №17 Semi-Open and Closed Type Penitentiary Establishments.

 

According to the law, prisoners are able to live with their children, adopted children, spouse, parents, foster parents, sisters or brothers for 24 hours in the specially designated rooms.

 

All eligible prisoners will have an opportunity to make use of the service twice a year or third time as a measure of encouragement. Besides, juveniles will be able to use it three times a year and fourth time as a measure of encouragement.

 

Three-star hotel-type infrastructure for long-term visits provides conditions for comfort of inmates and their visitors. Cleanliness of the premises is ensured. Food is provided three times a day and inmates and their visitors can use a special shop as well.

 

It is important that juniors can enter the houses together with visitors. An additional bed, toys and individual playgrounds are provided for them.

 

Infrastructure for long-term visits will be built in all semi-open type penitentiary establishments by 1 June, 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

The improvement of the accessibility and quality of prison healthcare service remains one of the main priorities of the MCLA. Primary healthcare models have been piloted in №8 and №6 Penitentiary Establishments in 2011. The reform is based on state standards of the field and international experts' recommendations.

 

New memoranda have been signed with the MoLHSA and the Nation Center for TB and Pulmonary Diseases on the basis of the new TB fight action plan of the MCLA.

 

From the National TB Program the medical staff is assigned at each penitentiary establishment for screening, separation, diagnosis and follow-up treatment, which is the most effective way of treatment and ensures spread prevention of the disease.

 

Construction of a new additional building at Ksani Medical Establishment will have an instrumental importance for prevention, separation and effective treatment of TB. The construction is underway and is in accordance with the relevant medical standards.

 

Medical establishments for pre-trial and convicted inmates are licensed. The process of licensing of pharmacies at penitentiary establishments is underway.

 

 

 

 

 

Preparation for release program is implemented in Rustavi №16, Ksani №15 and Tbilisi №12 penitentiary establishments.

 

Psychologists and social workers start the program with inmates 4-6 months before release and help them in various issues.

 

Except for psycho-rehabilitation, inmates are helped in issues of family relations, education, employment and organization of personal documentations.

 

By an innovative project of psychiatric health program, psychologists, psychiatrics and clinical social workers work with pre-trial female inmates in the penitentiary establishment for women.

 

The specialists provide consultations and primary care for pre-trial female inmates.

 

There are small enterprises in every penitentiary establishment where inmates are employed and receive salary. For example, the bread-baking factory in Ksani №15 penitentiary establishment supplies several establishments with fresh bread every morning.

At the workshop in the Penitentiary Establishment #17 in Rustavi, in addition to learning wood carving and icon painting, a special stove has been installed for producing enamel, which will be another source of income for the inmates.

 

 

 

As a result of reforms in juvenile justice, convicted juveniles who are in conflict with the law have more opportunities to benefit from individual assistance and rehabilitation, receive education and manage to develop in normal manner.

 

Living conditions and educational opportunities have been improved at juveniles special establishment.

 

Various vocational programs have been introduced which enable them to learn and acquire skills for their better reintegration into the society.

 

Rugby lessons are provided in the Special Establishment for Juveniles where children learn about the healthy life-style and team spirit.

 

The major results of the reform are: improved legislation and policies towards juveniles who are in conflict with the law; qualified personnel who well understand child's rights and specificities of working with them; individual sentence-planning which implies taking into consideration all needs of a juvenile and assistance provided by social workers, psychologists and specially trained probation officers.

 

From 2012 MCLA plans to develop the individual assistance and rehabilitation for pre-trial juveniles.  The above-mentioned method will support the effective organization of educational process, active involvement of pre-trial juveniles in professional courses and sport activities, as well as emphasizing on psychological approach.


Brochures on rights for foreign prisoners

Foreign citizens convicted in Georgian penitentiary establishments are able to get acquainted with the rights of convicts in their native language.Under the Georgian legislation, the rights of convicts have been translated into 8 different languages (Georgian, English, French, Russian, Azeri, Armenian, Turkish, Persian) and from now on, special brochures will be handed out to every inmate. Brochures were translated with the support of the Council of Europe. MCLA finds it crucial to provide all prisoners with information on their rights therefore and these brochures will provide a better opportunity for the department of prisons to fulfill its duty.