Report on the monitoring visit to State Institution "Romny Correctional Colony No. 56"

On 21 September 2020, a monitoring group consisting of an assistant to a People's Deputy, Maksym Revyakin, and two journalists, Tamila Bespala and Pavlo Shvab, visited the State Institution "Romny Correctional Colony No. 56". The institution is located in the village of Perehrestivka, Romny district, Sumy region – 12 kilometres from the district centre of the city of Romny.

The colony is a maximum-security institution for men serving sentences of imprisonment for a fixed term, as well as life imprisonment. At the time of the visit, there were 551 people in the colony, with a planned capacity of 760 people. Since the beginning of this year, 41 people have been released from the colony. The institution has been operating since 1961.

After checking documents, the monitors, accompanied by representatives of the colony, entered the territory without obstruction. At the entrance to the checkpoint, there were announcements and explanatory information regarding safety measures, countering the spread of, and prevention of the coronavirus infection COVID-19. Complying with all government recommendations regarding quarantine measures when passing through the checkpoint, the monitors had their body temperature checked, were offered protective masks, and were asked to disinfect their hands. The monitors handed the colony representatives five copies of the Internal Regulations with appendices for the convicts.

At the beginning, the monitors visited the unit where individuals serving life sentences are held. The unit is located on the ground floor of a two-storey building, which was built in 1982. According to the colony's representatives, this unit is renovated and is their pride. The kitchen has a modern two-chamber refrigerator and all necessary kitchen utensils. Drinking water is in abundance. The bathroom is equipped with a shower cubicle, washbasins, and a washing machine. The residential rooms are designed for two people and are bright. In the residential rooms, there are wooden beds and bedside tables by each bed. In the leisure room, there is a plasma TV. The unit has a schedule for wet cleaning and an evacuation plan in case of an emergency.

We would like to note that there were only 8 people in this unit out of 58 who are serving sentences.

Next, the monitoring group proceeded to the rooms for long-term and short-term visitations. The rooms have everything necessary, namely comfortable household furniture, a kitchen, and necessary kitchen utensils, which creates a home-like cosiness. Furthermore, there is a children's playroom. There is also a separate department for visitations with individuals serving life imprisonment.

The monitoring group also visited the shop, which is located on the ground floor of one of the residential buildings. The shop has a wide selection of goods. Prices are moderate and correspond to the market situation. There is a customer corner and a list of all goods sold in the shop, along with their prices. There is also a payment terminal in the shop for cashless transactions for those who have bank cards. The shop lacks a cash receipt book.

Then, the monitors inspected the living conditions. The residential buildings are two-storey brick structures, built during the 60s–80s of the 20th century, with their own spacious yard. The dining room has enough kitchen furniture and all the necessary utensils for cooking and eating. A tank of drinking water is freely accessible. The toilet and bathrooms are renovated. The washbasins are functional, and there is soap. The water is heated by a boiler. According to the individuals serving sentences, disinfectant agents are issued by colony representatives every week, and cleaning of the residential premises takes place according to a schedule. The individuals serving sentences also have masks. The residential rooms have cosmetic repairs; each room houses 5 to 8 people. The rooms are clean and tidy.

Next, the monitoring group visited the dining hall and kitchen. Approaching the dining hall, the area smelled pleasantly of baked goods – bread for dinner was just being baked in the bakery. The kitchen is clean, with a pleasant smell of prepared food; there is a stand with a menu distribution for convenience and accuracy in preparing dishes. The dining hall has washbasins with soap and towels. There is information about precautions and measures to combat the coronavirus infection. For the individuals serving sentences, there is information regarding the menu. There is a separate window for issuing dietary food.

Next, the monitors visited the bathhouse and laundry unit. New washing machines have been purchased for the laundry unit, which are more efficient and modern. There is also a hairdresser's. In the bathhouse, there is a large, bright changing room; the shower cubicles are separated by walls, and there are mats and curtains that can be removed.

The medical unit is half renovated. According to the medical unit representatives, it is planned to completely finish the renovation of the premises by the end of this year. Furthermore, new equipment has been purchased, namely a new Italian X-ray machine for 5 million hryvnias. There is a dental office where they not only extract teeth but, as the medical unit representatives assured, they also place fillings and dentures. At the time of the visit, 5 people were receiving inpatient treatment, and 45 people had been treated since the beginning of the year. According to the medical unit representatives, individuals serving sentences who are living with HIV (44 people) are receiving ART. Regarding OST (Opioid Substitution Therapy), there are no such individuals. During the period of quarantine caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, there was not a single case of infection among the individuals serving sentences. In case of infection, a separate isolated ward was prepared in the medical unit.

The monitoring group also visited the production facility. The main departments are the woodworking and sewing workshops.

In the woodworking workshop, there is a lot of dust; however, the workers there operate without masks or gloves. According to the administration, no one working there has special clothing, but they are provided with masks and gloves; however, they refuse to wear them themselves. There is a constant loud clatter, and vibration is felt, but ear protectors are not issued to the workers at the sawmill either.

In the sewing workshop, individuals serving sentences are sewing bags. At the time of the visit, the room was more or less ventilated. There is enough space to work. There are no foreign odours.

None of the workers could accurately name the amount of their wages. Some of them indicated that it depends on the output and amounts to 300–400 hryvnias. Others refused to name figures at all. At the time of the visit, 116 people were working in production.

A vocational school functions on the colony's territory – convicts have the opportunity to obtain one of four specialities, including welder and automotive mechanic, which are quite prestigious and in-demand specialities. Classes are held every other day before lunch. Practical classes in production take place on a similar schedule.

EU Project "Resisting Torture, Cruel Treatment and Impunity in Ukraine"