MANAMA: There are 1600 prisoners held against the capacity of 1200 in Jaw Prison, this is one of the observations of the recently established the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission (PDRC).
The Chairman of PDRC, Nawaf Al Moawda, said that the commission would continue to make surprise visits to the detention centers to identify the discrepancies, if exist, in the prison system of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“We have been working in line with the international norms of the prison conditions and have identified many loopholes in the way the prisoners are kept and treated,” he added.
The Chairman who was addressing a Press conference about the first report of the Commission and visit to the Dry Dock Detention Centre (DDDC) also highlighted some of the main statistics regarding the detention centre’s main findings, and the Commission’s recommendations.
The report found that the DDDC held 991 detainees, with 108 of them being person’s aged between 15 to 18 years. Around 765 were Bahraini, while 226 were foreign nationals. It is worth mentioning that the DDDC’s capacity is 1020 detainees. Additionally, the PDRC listed 21 recommendations in their report as a result of findings of the inspections. The recommendations are as follows:
Special Humane Treatment and Conditions Recommendations:
• Urgent action is required to ensure the cleanliness of the wings and periodic overall maintenance.
• The number of administrative staff with expertise in dealing with detainees should be increased. Special measures for detainees aged between 15 and 18 are a necessity for visits, communication, activities and motivating them to complete their studies.
• Training for DDDC staff on dealing with elderly detainees and those with special needs, foreign nationals or those aged between 15 and 18 should be in place. Staff should also be trained in managing and assessing risks.
• A suitable waiting area for visitors should be provided.
• Measures should be taken to ensure detainees can contact their families upon arrival to DDDC.
• Procedures to ensure detainees can inform their lawyers and families when they are transferred should be established. Risks should be assessed during transfer.
• Waiting areas should be provided for detainees at courts.
• Urgent action should be taken to install surveillance cameras to cover all the facilities of DDDC.
• Written procedures and measures for the delivery and exchange of personal necessities of detainees should be put in place.
• Educational, cultural plans and programs for all detainees should be developed. Detainees should be also motivated and encouraged to participate in such programs.
• Well trained and qualified staff to oversee the learning and skill acquisition programs should be provided with the provision of suitable places.
• Procedures for the legal use of force in DDDC should be established with the provision of proper training for the staff.
• A library should be provided as well as proper procedures to guarantee the delivery of reading materials.
Specific Recommendation for Rights and Safeguards:
• Publications covering the rights and duties of DDDC in several languages and in Braille (for the blind) should be given to detainees upon arrival.
• Written procedures for complaints and grievances and for the protection of complainants in order to ensure privacy and follow-up should be available.
Special Healthcare Recommendations:
• Increase the number of medical professionals; provide a dental clinic and a trained mental health team.
• Establish programs for health promotion and awareness among the detainees and the DDDC staff.
• Take the necessary measures to raise the level of awareness among staff and detainees on ways to deal with patients and explain the concept of medical isolation.
• Increase the number of administrative staff at the health center, provide an infection control team and activate the administrative supervision over the clinic and its staff.
• Develop measures to ensure the provision of translation services for detainees during their visit to the health center.
• Develop a mechanism to guarantee the provision of special diets for detained patients.