As of 2007, there were 85 prisons in Poland (''zakłady karne''). At end of that year, Polish
prison
A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correc ...
s had an official capacity of 79,213
inmate
A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison.
...
s, but reported 87,776 persons in custody (110.8% of capacity). As of 2011, there were 215
correctional institution
A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correcti ...
s, including 70 institutions for pre-trial detainees, 87 prisons, 14
hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...
s, and 44 other units.
By February 2019, inmate numbers had dropped to 74,352 (196 per 100,000 of the general population).
Of this number, 10.7% were pre-trial detainees, 4.2% were female, .1% were
minors, and 1.4% were foreign prisoners.
Prisons in Poland fall under the jurisdiction of the
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland
The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland is one of the ministries of Poland.
From 1956 to 1957, Zofia Wasilkowska was the first female to serve as a Minister of Justice in Poland's history.
Each Minister of Justice between 1990 and 20 ...
, but are administered by Służba Więzienna (
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent
* Polish chicken
*Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin screenwr ...
: ''Prison Service''). As of 2019, the head of the Prison Service was Director General Jacek Kitlinski.
The largest prison in Poland is
Wronki Prison
Wronki Prison ( pl, Zakład Karny Wronki) is the largest Anna Frankowska 2008-08-05, Money.pl Jacek DeptułaCiasno i duszno, Wysoki Sądzie Gazeta Pomorska, 27 września 2008 prison in Poland, holding over 1400 prisoners. Established by the Germ ...
.
Prison Regimes
When entering the Polish prison system, prisoners are sorted into one of three regimes: the program regime (which operates in 19 prisons), therapeutic regime, or regular regime.
The program regime, which runs three months, guides prisoners in “structured activities”; the therapeutic regime, of similar length, helps prisoners with
alcoholism
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol (drug), alcohol that results in significant Mental health, mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognize ...
,
drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, ...
, and
mental illness
A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitti ...
through individual and group therapy.
Problems in Polish prisons
Overcrowding has historically been an issue in Polish correctional facilities. Since 2014, prisons have run close to capacity, with average occupancy above 90%.
[MacDonald, M. (2001). Prison health care in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations.] Further, “(living) space per prisoner (has often been) less than the stated minimum in (Polish) legislation," meaning that Polish jailers have been forced to place 3-5 prisoners in
cells
Cell most often refers to:
* Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life
Cell may also refer to:
Locations
* Monastic cell, a small room, hut, or cave in which a religious recluse lives, alternatively the small precursor of a monastery w ...
made for two.
Overcrowding has also led to health problems, especially regarding
hygiene
Hygiene is a series of practices performed to preserve health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases." Personal hygiene refer ...
and
mental health
Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health ...
, as showers are used constantly without maintenance.
The largest
substance abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, ...
problem in Poland's jails is
alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse encompasses a spectrum of unhealthy alcohol drinking behaviors, ranging from binge drinking to alcohol dependence, in extreme cases resulting in health problems for individuals and large scale social problems such as alcohol-relat ...
.
Drugs such as
cannabis
''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: ''Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternatively ...
,
cocaine
Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...
, and
heroin
Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...
have also been reported. Injectable drugs are not considered as much of a problem, as
hypodermic needle
A hypodermic needle (from Greek ὑπο- (''hypo-'' = under), and δέρμα (''derma'' = skin)), one of a category of medical tools which enter the skin, called sharps, is a very thin, hollow tube with one sharp tip. It is commonly used w ...
possession has not been reported.
In an attempt to combat drug abuse in Polish prisons, the Prison Service has instituted
methadone
Methadone, sold under the brand names Dolophine and Methadose among others, is a synthetic opioid agonist used for chronic pain and also for opioid dependence. It is used to treat chronic pain, and it is also used to treat addiction to heroin ...
treatment in two institutions as a pilot project, with an aim to assisting Poland's 1,000 prison addicts.
See also
*
Law enforcement in Poland
Law enforcement in Poland consists of the Police (''Policja''), City Guards (named in urban areas Straż Miejska or in rural areas Straż Gminna, which is a type of municipal police), and several smaller specialised agencies. The ''Prokuratur ...
*
Mokotów Prison
Mokotów Prison ( pl, Więzienie mokotowskie, also known as ''Rakowiecka Prison'') is a prison in Warsaw's borough of Mokotów, Poland, located at 37 Rakowiecka Street. It was built by the Russians in the final years of the foreign Partitions of P ...
References
External links
Ogólnopolski Portal Służby WięziennejMINISTERSTWO SPRAWIEDLIWOŚCI, CENTRALNY ZARZĄD SŁUŻBY WIĘZIENNEJ, INFORMACJA O WYKONYWANIU KARY POZBAWIENIA WOLNOŚCI I TYMCZASOWEGO ARESZTOWANIA za rok 2007
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