The Department of Justice ha ruled out the use of aerosols in the Catalan prisons as a measure to contain violent situations that imply a risk to the integrity of the officials or the inmates themselves, as sources from this department have confirmed to EL PERIÓDICO. The Catalan Government has rejected the use of these sprays after having carried out a test, evaluating a protocol that showed that its application was “very complex” and studying the legal and health reports commissioned for this purpose. The rejection of this measure has been decided “to protect the physical integrity and health of workers of prisons and internalas well as to guarantee their rights”, according to the same sources.
The use of aerosols in prisons has long been a demand of prison officials’ unions. Last May, through an agreement between the representatives of these workers and the Department of Justice, the department undertook to carry out a pilot test on the use of these sprayers, a extent strongly criticized by human rights defenders. In fact, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture had already warned of its harmful effects and has stressed that, in any case, the instructions for use must expressly include that they cannot be used in closed spaces. Furthermore, there is a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights that considers it inhuman and degrading treatment.
The use is not authorized to protect the physical integrity and health of prison workers and inmates,” according to Justícia.
A dozen associations have expressed their concern because “union demands of a labor nature in the prison system of Catalonia are mixed with structural decisions about prisons that affect fundamental rights” and the “drift that is occurring with the incorporation of “means of use of force in the penitentiary environment.” They also warn that defense aerosols “have even caused the death of people deprived of liberty in other countries, being especially dangerous for people with cardiorespiratory problems.”
The Department of Justice has rejected its use, but the UGT prison union has already responded to that decision by ensuring, through a statement, that it is “a historical error”, since they consider that the use of sprays is ” limited exclusively to very specific situations, of high risk and with high complexity of intervention”. The union describes the alleged harmful effects, if they occur, as “acceptable collateral damage in the face of potential aggression.”
Single chambers
The Generalitat has already begun to implement other commitments it made with the unions to improve security in prisons. For example, in Quatre Camins (Roca del Vallés) and Lledoners (Sant Joan de Vilatorrada) two pilot tests of the use of single-person portable cameras by prison officials have already been carried out. These trials lasted eight consecutive weeks, from Monday to Sunday: they began on July 4 and 5 of this year and ended on August 20 and 31. Prior to these tests, the department issued a decree for the development of this initiative and the protocol on the use of these cameras.
111 extra professionals will begin working in prisons to prevent suicides, self-harm and manage conflicts
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The reinforcement of security measures is framed in several axes of action. One of them concerns the organization of the centers. In this sense, the Generalitat committed in March to define a model of reinforced security cells in the special closed regime departments, where conflictive and violent prisoners are isolated, and to review and adapt these facilities to prevent inmates from using any of its elements to perpetrate an attack.
In addition, in March an increase in the workforce of 350 personnel was agreed and in October, the Department of Justice announced the additional incorporation this January of another 111 professionals who will allow specific actions to be carried out in terms of prevention not only of suicides, but also of behaviors. self-harm of inmates and conflict management to avoid attacks on officials. The department has also opened the door to negotiating a new collective agreement for prison workers. The last one dates back to 2001. “This process is an opportunity to improve the quality of the prison system,” Justícia points out.