The authorities have lost interest in prison staff

As part of the implementation of the project “Improving Criminal-Executive Legislation—Public Expertise and Support”, with the financial support of the “Renaissance” International Foundation, a round table titled “Ensuring the social and legal protection of penal system employees—a guarantee of observing the rights of convicts” was prepared and held on 25 September 2008 in the premises of the Chernihiv City Council, jointly with the city supervisory commission and the “Chernihiv Women’s Human Rights Centre” charitable organisation.
Participating in the round table were members of the supervisory commission chaired by Deputy Mayor S.H. Vikhrov, Deputy Head of the Department of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences in the Chernihiv region O.I. Huzhva, teachers from the Chernihiv Law College of the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences, heads of the Chernihiv SIZO, Chernihiv Correctional Colony No. 44, the criminal-executive inspection, and representatives of the media, government bodies, local self-government, and city public organisations.
Participants of the round table noted that the criminal-executive system has recently been going through a difficult period, as it has become a hostage to the changes taking place in the country. It has ceased to be a priority for the authorities. In the conditions of the modern economic model in Ukraine, there was no place for the prison system; the authorities lost economic interest in the system, and at the same time lost all interest in the people who work there.
Despite this, the staff of the bodies and institutions for the execution of sentences continues to perform work of great social importance.
The participants of the round table “Ensuring the social and legal protection of penal system employees—a guarantee of observing the rights of convicts”, based on the results of the discussion, stated that there are currently many problems in the sphere of legal and social protection of the personnel of the State Criminal-Executive Service.
With this aim, the participants of the round table proposed to develop and adopt, in the near future, laws and regulatory acts regarding the service of rank-and-file and command personnel of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine, namely:
a) in accordance with Clause 22 of Article 92 of the Constitution of Ukraine—to develop and adopt the Law of Ukraine “On the Disciplinary Statute of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine”;
b) to develop and adopt the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On the procedure for service by employees of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine”;
c) to develop and adopt the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On the procedure for payment of one-time financial assistance in the event of the death or injury of an employee of the criminal-executive service and compensation for damage to their property during the performance of official duties”.
The participants of the round table “Ensuring the social and legal protection of penal system employees—a guarantee of observing the rights of convicts” adopted a resolution and decided to address the proposals regarding the improvement of the legal regulation of the service of rank-and-file and command personnel of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine to:
- the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine,
- the State Department of Ukraine for the Execution of Sentences,
- the Committee on Legislative Support for Law Enforcement Activities of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.