NCJ Number
52990
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUTUMN-WINTER 1978) Pages: 52-59
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
CONDITIONS IN YUGOSLAVIAN PRISONS ARE DISCUSSED, AND LABOR LAWS APPLICABLE TO INMATES OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE NOTED.
Abstract
RADICAL CHANGES IN THE PRISON SYSTEM OF YUGOSLAVIA CAME ABOUT AFTER WORLD WAR II AND ALSO AS A RESULT OF THE COUNTRY'S IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS PROMULGATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS. TWO INSTITUTIONS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA WERE VISITED IN 1977: A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FOR ADULT FEMALES AND ONE FOR ADULT MALE OFFENDERS. THE WOMEN'S FACILITY HOUSES ABOUT 84 INMATES WHO ARE SERVING SENTENCES FOR NONVIOLENT CRIMES, NONE OF WHOM ARE JUVENILES. THE FACILITY'S RE-EDUCATION AND RESOCIALIZATION PROGRAM FOR INMATES IS BASED ON THEIR OFFENSES, SENTENCES, PAST RECORDS, PERSONALITIES, FAMILY BACKGROUNDS, WORK HISTORIES, AND OTHER PERTINENT CRITERIA. THE FAMILY UNIT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN RESOCIALIZATION. INMATES ARE PERMITTED TO HAVE VISITORS TWICE A MONTH, AND THERE ARE SEPARATE FACILITIES FOR USE DURING CONJUGAL VISITS. YUGOSLAVIA'S LABOR LAWS APPLY TO INMATES OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS THEY APPLY TO WORKERS IN OUTSIDE ENTERPRISE. INMATES HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE 25 VACATION DAYS PER YEAR. ELIGIBILITY FOR VACATION OCCURS AFTER 6 MONTHS OF WORK. THE WORK RELEASE PROGRAM IS LIMITED TO FIRST OFFENDERS SERVING SENTENCES OF 6 MONTHS OR LESS FOR NONSERIOUS CRIMES. FACILITY GUARDS RECEIVE EXTENSIVE TRAINING BEFORE APPOINTMENT TO THEIR POSITIONS, BUT MEDICAL SERVICES ARE LIMITED. THE MEN'S PRISON, LOCATED IN A RURAL AREA, IS A MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION WHICH HOUSES ABOUT 100 MEDIUM-SECURITY AND 50 MINIMUM-SECURITY INMATES. MANY INMATES WORK IN A FOUNDRY; BY LEARNING A TRADE, THEY INCREASE THEIR CHANCES OF FINDING EMPLOYMENT AFTER THEIR RELEASE. DORMITORIES ARE LARGE AND IMPERSONAL, AND INMATES LACK PRIVACY. THE PROGRAM OF CONJUGAL VISITS HAS REDUCED THE INCIDENCE OF COERCIVE HOMOSEXUAL ACTS. A DETOXIFICATION UNIT EXISTS WHICH IS USED PRIMARILY FOR ALCOHOLICS GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWAL. INMATES ARE KEPT IN THIS UNIT FOR A MAXIMUM OF 48 HOURS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)