Complaint against the Prison and Probation Service, Salberga prison, regarding opportunities for inmates to establish prisoners’ councils

An inmate of Salberga prison applied for permission to set up a prisoners’ council in his unit. He received a response which clearly can be interpreted as the prison requiring that inmates from several units participate in the prisoners’ council.

The investigation shows that there is in fact no such requirement, and the Parliamentary Ombudsman has no reason to express any criticism. She emphasises, however, that a prison may not set conditions for the establishment of a prisoners’ council that, in reality, render the possibility of forming such councils and of meeting an illusion.

In her decision, the Parliamentary Ombudsman stresses the importance of prisoners being properly informed about the exercise of their rights under the Imprisonment Act.