Convicted
Institution for the confinement of persons
It is divided into 3 security levels.
“First security level”:
The lowest security level.
The first security level:
In such institutions, a moderate regime is usually deployed, but everything depends on the director of the institute, who approves and adapts the institutional order according to his needs. Every convicted person must study the constitutional order and follow it, any violation of this order is automatically subject to disciplinary punishment.
A person in the first security level has many advantages compared to those in the second security level, either freedom of movement or other advantages: the possibility of more telephone calls, outdoor workplaces with or without the supervision of a guard, the possibility of leaving the institution for a walk or home visit, or faster approval of extraordinary visits (of strangers), everything depends on the pedagogue who is in charge of the given convict.
There is usually only one officer in the department (regimen officer), who is in charge of the given department, takes care of the dispensing of medicines, admission to the doctor, shopping, admission to the workplace and other activities that need to be supervised by the officer.
For example, prison in Trnava – Hrnčiarovce nad Parnou is the largest institution in terms of capacity, there are around 1450 convicts. There are cells where there are 10 people in a room, there are also other cells with a capacity of 5 or 9 people, so the square meters by far do not meet the standards of the European Union, which is very strange for the 21st century. Hot water only flows in the shower. Convicts who are not assigned to work have a shower twice a week and those assigned to work every day.
Serving meals: prisoners go to a huge dining room where there is a space for 300-400 convicts. Meals are collected at the delivery window on a tray. As for nutritional values and weight, everything is calculated according to tables (but according to outdated information).
Work – if the convict does not have enough food, then the work is very physically demanding, which of course reflects on the performance and quality of the work.
The convict’s salary, the so-called financial reward, is around 20 € per month. It depends on whether the convicted person has debts, maintenance obligations, how many children he has and so on…
50% of the salary is taken by the institution (costs of serving the sentence), then alimony, debts, various insurances – levies are deducted, so 12% remains for the convicted person. The prisoner works in internal workplaces, these are workplaces directly in the institution, and then there are also external workplaces. These are various companies, factories and also the private sector, where the convict is taken as a very cheap labour force. Of course, the convict has no choice and has to work!!
The relationships between convicts are very specific, but if one is reasonable, he or she learns to get along with different personalities.
There are good people, bad people, just like outside, it is the same behind the prison walls.
In the end, the first security level is quite difficult because of the number of convicts, more people – more problems, less people – less problems.
“Second security level”:
Medium level of guarding.
The second security level:
In such institutions, the regime is stricter compared to the first level, but every convict who has been through the first and second levels would say that the punishment is more manageable in the second level.
Of course, everything depends on the institute’s director and the institute’s regulations that apply to that institute.
Different institutes, different rules. Convicts in the second level have a somewhat stricter regime compared to the first level.
They do not have the opportunity to talk on the phone as often as convicts in the first level, workplaces are mostly indoor and supervision is stricter. To arrange the pedagogue, special visits, permitted items of personal use and others is more difficult.
The behaviour of the convict is assessed more strictly, it is natural, since the convicts in the second level are convicts who have a long sentence or have a serious criminal activity in their CV or are repeatedly serving a sentence, and the mild regime would not affect their „correction“.
There are more officers in the department, as it is a stricter regime, the convict must feel that he is not there for a reward.
Pedagogues have better approach to convicts, they work more with them.
Relationships between convicts are more mutually respected, and the sentence is generally better executed emotionally (from the convict’s point of view).
It is said that the second level is calmer.
The work is just as demanding as in the first security level and equally valued.
It happens that in rare cases the salary is slightly higher. Everything depends on the workplace and the company for which the convict works.
After the completion of one third of the sentence in the second security level, the convicted person is legally entitled to request a transfer to a lower level of custody. The court decides on this based on the application and evaluation of the sentenced person by the institution.
For example, prison in Ružomberok is a small institution where there are not as many convicts as in other institutions.
The rooms have a capacity of 10 and 4 convicts. The advantage is that the rooms have TV and electricity and it is possible to use your own TV set, kettle or hair clipper.
There is a gym available which is a big advantage. It usually happens that the convict starts to workout in the prison, thus doing something for himself and his health.
“Third security level”:
The highest level of guarding.
The third security level:
There are very few institutions of this type, where the maximum level of guarding is implemented.
There are convicts who committed very serious criminal activities, they are dangerous. It should be noted that the court decides in which security level the convict will be placed.
The regime in the third level is exactly the same as in the custody. That means 23 hours closed in one room and 1 hour walking.
There are 10 or less convicts in the rooms. Everything is solved through requests, just like when you are placed in the custody.
Of course, such convicts have the opportunity to work as well, but not all of them are allowed to.
The work in this security level is a reward rather than a duty. For that reason, it is really only an exception that a person gets out of the cell for a longer time than an hour a day. Of course, work is done in the internal workplace. Under strict supervision.
But even in this level, the convicted person has the opportunity to apply for a transfer to a lower level of custody after completing half of his sentence.
Even in this case, the court decides about it on the basis of the institute’s evaluation and recommendation.
Life in the third level is very difficult, especially for people with long-term sentences. It’s a big blow to the psyche. Convicts quite often encounter “cabin fever“.
Some convicts are together locked in one room for several years, and this is certainly reflected in their relationships with each other. Over time, homosexual tendencies are also manifested, and it is not unusual for some men to find a partner there.
In some cases, it happens that convicts have a hard time tolerating such conditions and must visit psychologists and psychiatrists who prescribe them medication, antidepressants and the like.
With no doubt, staying in such an environment leaves permanent consequences on people.