The Minister of Justice, Costas Fytiris, is seeking to achieve a total facelift of the prison system of Cyprus, having admitted that today there are many problems being faced.
As the Minister stated in the Human Rights Committee during a discussion on the conditions of detention in the Central Prisons, work is progressing on the creation of the new Central Prisons at a cost of €350 million and with a capacity of 1,500 people. In relation to the location of the new penitentiary, the Minister noted that it will be built on the boundaries of Mathiatis, in an isolated state area, while this has already been accepted by the community.
The existing prisons will be converted into detention facilities for the inmates, while the juvenile prisons will soon be ready.
In addition, the Minister noted that a bill is being prepared for the criteria for employing prison guards and the director of the central prisons, as well as a prison guard school.
Mr. Fytiris also referred to the much-praised issue with the sick leaves of prison guards, noting that it highlights a weakness. However, he expressed the desire in the future to legislate a scoring system for prison guards and police officers, so that those who are in difficult positions can be rewarded.
Beginning his statement, Mr. Fytiris noted "it is my duty to be in your Committee, as well as in the others. We owe it as an executive power. We have already admitted the problems. Someone must be able to serve their sentence when they break the law and at the same time enjoy human rights. In these prisons the staff is exhausted and this burnout causes additional problems," he said.
The position of director of the Central Prisons has been announced. "There are too many applications, 37 in total. I am not the one who chooses, nor do I determine the criteria. It is the Public Service Commission. We want him to be able to manage issues such as long-term convicts and rights. I want you to emphasize that the choice will not be made by me," he said and expressed the hope that after the selection of the most prevalent ones, the most suitable one will be chosen to manage all kinds of people, people with strong personalities and criminal characteristics.
"The prison guards, the director, are employees today and that is why we are preparing new legislation so that their criteria differ from the employees." The bill in question, the Minister said, will be submitted with the new Parliament. In addition, he referred to the operation of a separate prison guard school.
In relation to overcrowding, Mr. Fytiris said that it is a very serious issue. "Despite the favours and deportations, we reached 1,175, i.e. pre-Christmas levels. We have 8 to 10 arrests every day," he said.
The Minister noted that a procedure is provided for those who work illegally and who are in Cyprus illegally, so that they can be deported with express procedures, in order not to burden the prisons with additional prisoners. "These are 1.450 people in the last 2,5 months," he said and added that 60% of the detainees are foreigners.
The minors, he said, are expected to enter Menogia at the end of April.
Regarding the new Central Prisons, Kostas Fytiris said that the project of the new penitentiary is developmental, it will bring people to the area where it will be built, lawyers, relatives, professionals. It will be a closed center and will not affect the community, he underlined.
"The area will be developed properly and will have a better road network. It is a pioneering project and huge. It is expected to cost more than €350 million for 1,500 inmates. We have reserved an area," he said. "In prisons, today, 1/3 are undertrials, whom we will keep in the existing prisons next to the court. Therefore, any prison expansion projects have been suspended."
Another way to decongest is wristbands, which will increase from 30 to 80 by March 31. "Due to overcrowding, we have, in a cell of 2 people with 3 or 4 with 6. That is why we are seeking at this stage a reduction of the sentence."
Director and prison guards
"The Central Prisons have been headless for 4 years. This caused several issues in the staff, in the hierarchy, in the attachment of employees. The many sick were troubling me even before the Auditor General's report. Sick leave is not something that is planned. There are too many sick leaves, they cannot be given over the phone or one goes and takes for 10 of his colleagues."
The staff does not have the morale they should, they are under psychological pressure and resort to sick leave, added Mr. Fytiris. "That is why we want to support them, to give them points for the difficult services in prisons, something that should also be done in the Police. Those who are in the office could also have a different salary than those who are on the front line, and this credit rating should also play a role in their promotions. Everyone should be evaluated with the service they offer. He cannot be credited if he is absent."
Problem with transgender people
Following complaints and questions from MPs, it was reported that today two trans people are being held in the Central Prison, while a third is expected. The two trans people are in a wing of a very small population, of 12 people. There is a plan to create a very small space for transgender prisoners.
Phones and drugs
Reference was also made to mobile phones and drugs inside the prisons. Today, the minister said, there is a system with the ability to locate telephone devices. There have been 30 seizures this year. It is no coincidence that a mobile phone cost €500 in prison, while now it costs €5,000.
In relation to drugs, it was reported that an effort is being made by the prison security office. Some try to put them in prison by even placing them in visiting children.
