- 46 128. The CPT is particularly concerned by some of the facilities for restricted (as opposed to
open) visits which its delegation observed. The facilities for restricted visits at Korydallos Mens and
Womens prisons and at Larissa Prison were such that prisoner/visitor vision was very limited;
further, the prisoner and his visitor often had to shout at each other to make themselves heard.
The CPT recommends that appropriate steps be taken to remedy the above-mentioned
defects at Korydallos (it notes from the inspection report and related correspondence provided by
the Greek authorities that such steps are already being taken at Larissa Prison).
The conditions under which visits from lawyers took place were also not always
satisfactory. At Korydallos Mens Prison, for example, it was observed that once the visiting room
was at least partially full, it was impossible to conduct a private conversation. The CPT
recommends that appropriate steps be taken to guarantee the confidentiality of a prisoner's
discussions with his lawyer.
129. More generally, in the light of the delegation's observations, the CPT wishes to
recommend that steps be taken without delay to provide both prisoners and visitors with
seats.
Further, the CPT invites the Greek authorities to review visiting arrangements in
prisons in order to ensure as far as possible that prisoners are able to receive visits under
reasonably open conditions.
130. The CPT would add that it welcomes the measures being taken to improve access for
prisoners at Larissa Prison to a telephone (cf. the previously-mentioned inspection report and
related correspondence).
c.
discipline and segregation
131. Disciplinary matters are dealt with in considerable detail in the Code of basic rules for the
treatment of prisoners. The acts that constitute disciplinary offences are defined and the types of
penalties listed exhaustively. The most severe penalty is confinement in a special cell3 for one to ten
days, the maximum being five days for remand prisoners and prisoners under 17. This penalty may
be combined with other sanctions (eg. prohibition of visits); however, a prisoner undergoing
disciplinary confinement cannot be deprived of reading matter.
The procedure to be followed for the imposition of a disciplinary sanction is also clearly
identified. In particular, the prisoner concerned has the right to be heard, and decisions given must
be reasoned. Express provision is made for a right of appeal to a court against a decision to impose
the sanction of confinement in a special cell. For its part, the CPT considers that a right of
appeal to a higher authority should exist in respect of all types of disciplinary sanctions.
3
The Code provides that special cells for confinement shall be of the same size as ordinary cells.
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