There is no violence-free environment in the penitentiary establishments, which is manifested in physical and psychological violence among inmates, criminal subculture, and the long-term and inappropriate use of de-escalation, solitary confinement and internal classification cells, Special Preventive Group of the Public Defender of Georgia said after it conducted the monitoring in penitentiary establishments.

The Special Preventive Group of the Public Defender of Georgia conducted monitoring in penitentiary establishments N2, N8, N14 and N15 in July and August 2019.

The visits were made to the largest semi-open and closed facilities.

“The systemic and characterizing aspects of each institution were analyzed in a complex manner, based on the information obtained during monitoring. One of the main focuses of the monitoring was to examine the extent and forms of informal governance in the institutions as the above poses a serious threat to prisoners" ill-treatment, which leads to violence and oppression among prisoners.
According to the information obtained by the Special Preventive Group, there is no violence-free environment in the facilities, which is manifested in physical and psychological violence among inmates, criminal subculture, and the lengthy and inappropriate use of de-escalation, solitary confinement and internal classification cells”, - reads the statement released by the Public Defender’s Office.