Report on the results of the visit to Sofiivska Penal Colony No. 55
General Information
On 25 January 2018, a monitoring group from the KHPG, consisting of Volodymyr Hlushchenko, Hanna Ovdiienko, and Vasyl Melnychuk, visited Sofiivska Penal Colony No. 55.
Sofiivska Penal Colony No. 55 is a medium-security penal institution located in the city of Vilniansk, Zaporizhzhia Region. Currently, 609 individuals are serving sentences in the colony. An inter-regional hospital for inmates suffering from tuberculosis operates on the colony grounds. On the day of the monitoring visit, there were 11 people in the colony’s medical unit, 38 were living with HIV, and 21 had AIDS.
Inmates in the colony have the opportunity to obtain secondary and vocational education at a school and a vocational technical college. They may perform religious rites. Six denominations operate within the colony, but according to the administration, inmates do not participate in services or rites very often. A satellite dish was installed using funds provided by religious communities.
Nutrition
Meals in the colony are provided according to a schedule. At the time of the visit to the penal institution, inmates were just preparing lunch. The canteen is spread across two buildings. Since the institution has a specific status (the presence of a tuberculosis medical facility), the inmates’ diet includes butter, cheese, and sour cream. For infection control, inmates working in the kitchen live separately from the other prisoners. The kitchen includes cold storage, a hot food preparation area, and a bakery in a separate room. On the day of the visit, fish was being fried, bread was being baked, and a grain soup was being prepared in the kitchen. Overall, the food products appeared fresh and edible.
DIZO and PKT Sector
At the time of the visit to the penal institution, there were three individuals in the disciplinary isolation cell (DIZO). All of them noted that they were in the DIZO for the first time and had no complaints against the administration of the penal institution. One person was in a cell-type room (PKT).
The DIZO and PKT sector is in a satisfactory condition. It was relatively warm in the room, and there is a possibility to open the window for ventilation. The bathroom is not separated from the main room and is in a semi-derelict state.
Maximum Security Sector (MRB)
A maximum security sector has been established at Sofiivska Penal Colony. Men sentenced to life imprisonment serve their sentences here. At the time of the visit to the colony, 67 inmates were serving their sentences in this sector.
Capital repairs have been carried out in five cells of this sector: the bathroom has been separated from the general room and equipped in such a way that inmates can take a shower, and metal-plastic windows have been installed. Some cells have forced ventilation.
Other cells are in slightly worse material and technical condition. However, the colony administration plans to carry out capital repairs in those as well. The only obstacle is a lack of funding. Inmates in all cells have the ability to open windows to air out the premises. The cells are sufficiently warm.
In this sector, the heating system pipes, sewage, and electrical wiring have been completely replaced. There is a room for storing inmates’ belongings and food, which is equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave oven. Inmates can wash their clothes in a specially designated room and dry them there. The shower cubicle is in good condition, but there are no partitions between cubicles in the shower area.
Inmates are able to use telephone communication without hindrance (each call lasts 15 minutes) upon submitting a corresponding application. Inmates also have the opportunity to use the Internet in a specially equipped office.
Medium Security Sector
Men who have previously served prison sentences serve their time in this sector. In total, there are four populated local sectors in the Sofiivska Penal Colony; a fifth sector has been vacated due to the dilapidated state of the premises.
Capital repairs have been carried out in one of the sectors: the pipeline, sewage, and electrical wiring have been completely replaced, and the sections have been refitted to meet European standards for floor space, etc.
The other three local sectors require repairs. In these three sectors, the requirements for living space per inmate are not met, bunk beds are used, and proper sanitary and hygienic conditions have not been created. The shower and toilet rooms are in a semi-derelict state, and the furniture is old and neglected.
According to the established schedule, inmates visit the bathhouse once a week. The bathhouse has been renovated: the walls are tiled with ceramic tiles, and plastic windows and partitions between cubicles have been installed to ensure privacy. Inmates can also wash their clothes at any time. The laundry is equipped with new washing machines, and in winter, inmates can dry their clothes in a specially designated room. A smoking area operates within the bathhouse building.
Industrial Zone
The industrial zone at the Sofiivska Penal Colony was built during the Soviet era. It has a very large area, which is currently not needed as there are not enough people willing to work. Therefore, the majority of the premises are in a dilapidated state and are closed.
However, even under such conditions, repairs of the industrial zone buildings are ongoing; for example, the roof of one workshop was repaired last year. Currently, a sewing workshop, a repair and tool workshop, and a workshop for producing alternative fuel from sunflower waste are in operation.
There is also an auxiliary farm where pigs (500 head) and poultry are raised.
Inmates work voluntarily from 08:00 to 16:00. Employment contracts have been signed with all working inmates. During personal conversations, the inmates reported that after all deductions, they receive about 500 hryvnias in wages.
