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Remarques

This questionnaire is addressed to prosecutors and the member of the CCPE of each State shall be responsible for collecting of replies.

In some States, prosecutors have only reduced powers within matters of prison administration. Some States will therefore not be able to reply to all questions.

It will not be implied from the fact that this questionnaire was answered that prosecutiors shall have a role in this matter.

The scope of the questionnaire is identical to that of Recommendation Rec(2006)2 (see para.10): this questionnaire concerns any person deprived of liberty, in any form whatsoever and not strictly the person detained in a prison.

This questionnaire does not concern the enforcement of sanctions in general but is limited to the prosecutor’s supervision of the legality of the enforcement of sanctions.

Ce questionnaire s’adresse aux procureurs et le membre du CCPE au titre de chaque Etat est responsable de la collecte des réponses.

Dans certains Etats, les procureurs ont peu de compétences en matière d’administration pénitentiaire. Certains Etats ne pourront donc pas répondre à toutes les questions.

Le fait de répondre à ce questionnaire ne sous-entend pas que les procureurs doivent avoir un rôle en la matière.

Le champ d’application du questionnaire est le même que celui de la Recommandation Rec(2006)2 (voir para.10) : ce questionnaire concerne toute personne privée de liberté, sous quelque forme que ce soit, et non simplement de la personne détenue dans un établissement pénitentiaire.

Ce questionnaire ne concerne pas l’exécution des sanctions de manière générale et se limite au contrôle de la légalité de l’exécution des sanctions par le procureur.

Question 2

What are the Prosecution Service’s powers regarding prison matters and in terms of deprivation of liberty?

The Prosecutor’s Office of Estonia Republic is a government agency within the area of government of the Ministry of Justice. .According to the Prosecutor’s Office Act, the Prosecutor’s Office participates in planning surveillance required for the prevention and detection of crimes;

leads pre-trial criminal proceedings ensuring its lawfulness and effectiveness;

represents public prosecution in court and fulfils other duties imposed on the Prosecutor’s Office by law.Being the leader of criminal proceedings, the prosecutor guides the preliminary investigator in collecting evidence and decides whether to bring charges against a person on the basis of the facts established

In Estonia prosecutors do not have full authority in prison mattes. Ministry of Justice have full authority in prison matters. Ministry of Justice  of Estonia Republic The Department of Prisons is the administrative management unit of the prison system with its principal duty of managing, enhancing and supervising work in prisons. The department is led by the Deputy Secretary-General for prisons of the Ministry of Justice and is divided into four divisions. In addition, the adviser and chief chaplain, secretary and the assistant to the Deputy Secretary-General also form part of department personnel.

Quelles sont les compétences du Ministère public en matière pénitentiaire et en matière de privation de liberté ?

Question 3

In States where prosecutors do not have full authority in prison matters, what are nevertheless their means of action used as regards prisons ?

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure suspect or accused may be arrested at the request of a Prosecutor's Office and on the basis of an order of a preliminary investigation judge or on the basis of a court ruling if he or she is likely to abscond from the criminal proceeding or continue to commit criminal offences.

Dans les Etats dans lesquels les procureurs n’ont pas de compétence générale en matière de prisons, quels sont néanmoins les moyens d’action dont ils disposent concernant les systèmes pénitentiaires ?

Question 4

If prosecutors have general competences as regard prisons and detention, what kind of means have been provided to the Prosecution Service to allow its effective and fast action towards protecting human rights in matters of prison administration?

Si les procureurs sont compétents en matière de prisons et de détention, quels sont les moyens à disposition du Ministère public pour lui permettre d’agir efficacement et rapidement pour protéger les droits de l’homme en matière d’administration pénitentiaire ?

Question 5

What are the positive and decisive elements of the prosecutor’s role in terms of protecting Human rights compared to other mechanisms of legal protection?

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure investigative bodies, Prosecutors’ Offices and courts shall treat the participants in a proceeding without defamation or degradation of their dignity. No one shall be subjected to torture or other cruel or inhuman treatment.

According to Imprisonment Act Prisoners, prisoner or a person in custody be treated in a manner that respects their human dignity and ensures that the serving of the punishment, the penalty following the detention or held in custody did not cause her more suffering or distress to the ones that inevitably a prison or detention house detention. Prisoners, after withholding penalty, freedom of the detained or arrested by law subject to the restrictions. If the law does not stipulate specific restrictions, the prison, the Ministry of Justice or the house of detention applied only to such limitations as are necessary in prison or house arrest for security reasons. Restrictions must comply with the execution of the principle of human dignity and must not distort the law of other rights and freedoms.

Quels sont les éléments positifs et déterminants du rôle du procureur en matière de protection des droits de l’homme, par rapport aux autres mécanismes de protection juridique ?

Question 6

What could be the improvements to this system of protection?

Quels sont les améliorations qui pourraient être apportées à ce système de protection ?

Question 7

Do prosecutors have jurisdiction to examine whether the rights (Human rights and especially procedural rights) of persons in criminal (for example as regards enforcement of prison sentences or pre-trial detention) or administrative detention are respected at the detention centre?

 According to the Code of Criminal Procedure safeguarding of personal liberty and respect for human dignity

A suspect may be detained for up to forty-eight hours without an arrest warrant issued by a court. A person under arrest shall be immediately notified of the court’s decision on arrest in a language and manner which he or she understands. Investigative bodies, Prosecutors’ Offices and courts shall treat the participants in a proceeding without defamation or degradation of their dignity. No one shall be subjected to torture or other cruel or inhuman treatment. In a criminal proceeding, it is permitted to interfere with the private and family life of a person only in the cases and pursuant to the procedure provided for in this Code in order to prevent a criminal offence, apprehend a criminal offender, ascertain the truth in a criminal matter or secure the execution of a court judgment.

Le procureur a-t-il compétence pour examiner si les droits (droits de l’homme et en particulier droits procéduraux) des personnes détenues ou retenues (par exemple en matière d’exécution de peines de prison ou de détention provisoire) sont respectés au centre de détention?

Question 8

Can a prisoner meet in private with a prosecutor to determine whether they had been subjected to torture or to any other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment? 

A prisoner or a person in custody has the right of recourse to an administrative court for compensation for damage caused by a prison on the condition that the prisoner or the person in custody has previously submitted an application for compensation for damage pursuant to the procedure provided for in the State Liability Act to the prison and the prison has returned the application or refused to satisfy the application or to review the application during the term.

Les détenus peuvent-ils avoir une entrevue en tête-à-tête avec le procureur pour savoir s’ils ont été exposés à un acte de torture ou à tout autre peine ou traitement inhumain ou dégradant ?

Question 9

Do prosecutors examine, and if so, how frequently, whether the accomodation provided to prisoners meet the recommendations of the Council of Europe (and namely of the European Committee for the prevention of Torture/CPT[1]? Can prosecutors make proposals in that direction which have an influence on the relevant budget ? No

In Estonia we have a different system and we can´t answer to this question.

Le procureur examine-t-il, le cas échéant à quelle fréquence, si l’hébergement des détenus respecte les recommandations du Conseil de l’Europe (et en particulier du Comité européen pour la prévention de la torture/CPT)¹ ?

Le procureur peut-il faire des propositions en ce sens ayant une influence sur le budget concerné ?

Question 10

What kind of means exist for prosecutors to deal with authorities or officers/employees which have not completely or properly enforced the decisions of the court or the Prosecution Service related to punishments and/or measures involving deprivation of liberty? If a prosecutor detects such negligence, is he entitled to give binding instructions for the immediate termination of the breach of law? Is it in their power to initiate criminal or disciplinary proceedings, actions for damages or any other kind of impeachment? What other prosecutorial instruments are at his disposal ?

 If a Prosecutor's Office finds elements of a disciplinary offence in the conduct of an official of an investigative body in a pre-trial proceeding, the Prosecutor's Office shall submit a written proposal to the person entitled to impose disciplinary penalties that disciplinary proceedings be commenced against the official of the investigative body. The person entitled to impose disciplinary penalties is required to notify the Prosecutor's Office in writing of the results of resolution of the proposal and of the bases for the resolution within one month as of the receipt of the proposal.

De quels moyens dispose le procureur à l’encontre des autorités ou agents qui n’exécutent pas complètement ou correctement les décisions du tribunal ou du procureur concernant les sanctions et/ou les mesures privatives de liberté ? Si le procureur détecte une négligence, peut-il donner des instructions contraignantes visant à faire cesser immédiatement l’infraction à la loi ? Peut-il initier une procédure pénale ou disciplinaire, une action en réparation ou tout autre type d’action en contestation ? Quels sont les autres instruments d’action publique à sa disposition  ?

Question 11

How often do prosecutors carry out monitoring visits of institutions of criminal and administrative detention? Are there concrete follow-ups related to these visits?

In Estonia we have a different system and we can´t answer to this question.

Quelle est la fréquence des visites de contrôle du procureur dans les lieux de détention et de rétention? Ces visites peuvent-elles faire l’objet d’un suivi concret ?

Question 12

Within the framework of their monitoring duties, do prosecutors have the power to take action at any time of the day (even at night) in the institutions of criminal and administrative detention? No

In Estonia we have a different system and we can´t answer to this question.

Le procureur a-t-il la possibilité d’intervenir à toute heure (même la nuit) dans le lieu de détention et de rétention dans le cadre de sa tâche d’inspection?

Question 13

May prosecutors commission experts to assist them in their tasks related to supervision and inspection?

No

Pour leurs tâches de contrôle et d’inspection, les procureurs ont-ils la possibilité de recourir à des experts ?

Question 14

Are complaints and/or denunciations regarding criminal and administrative detention subject to prosecutorial inquiry independently of any relevant authority or employees/officers? Is it a prosecutor’s duty to complete investigations himself/herself or is he/she allowed to forward these complaints for investigation to the officers/employees that are the subject of those complaints? No

A prisoner or a person in custody has the right of recourse to an administrative court for compensation for damage caused by a prison on the condition that the prisoner or the person in custody has previously submitted an application for compensation for damage pursuant to the procedure provided for in the State Liability Act to the prison and the prison has returned the application or refused to satisfy the application or to review the application during the term.

Les plaintes et/ou dénonciations concernant la détention et la rétention  font-elles l’objet d’investigations par le procureur, indépendamment des autorités ou des agents concernés?Le procureur a-t-il le devoir d’enquêter lui-même ou peut-il transmettre les plaintes pour enquête aux agents qui sont l’objet de la plainte ?

Question 15

In case of sudden death, accident or criminal offence committed against a prisoner, or if a prisoner commits a crime against another prisoner or a prison staff member, is the investigation conducted by a prosecutor acting as an independent judicial authority or is it simply supervised by a prosecutor? Do prosecutors have any role in investigations?

Investigative bodies and Prosecutors’ Offices are required to conduct criminal proceedings upon the appearance of facts referring to a criminal offence unless the circumstances provided for in the Code which preclude criminal procedure or the grounds to terminate criminal proceedings pursuant to subsection of this Code exist.

En cas de décès subit, d’accident ou d’infraction pénale à l’encontre du détenu, ou si celui-ci commet un crime à l’encontre d’un autre détenu ou d’un agent de l’administration pénitentiaire, l’affaire est-elle instruite par le procureur en tant qu’instance judiciaire indépendante ou est-elle simplement contrôlée par le procureur ? Les procureurs ont-ils un rôle quelconque dans l’enquête ?

Question 16

Are prosecutors entitled to take action in procedures concerning the adoption/revocation of special measures for high risk detaineed or subject to special restrictions in connection with Notheir role and position in active criminal organisations? If so, how? No

Le procureur peut-il intervenir, et le cas échéant de quelle manière, dans des procédures concernant l’adoption/la révocation de mesures spéciales pour les détenus à haut risque ou soumis à des restrictions spécifiques en raison de leur rôle et leur position dans les organisations criminelles actives ?

Question 17

With a view to preserving them from any type of influence, are prosecutors autonomous or subordinated to other colleagues when monitoring the detention’s legality?

The authority of a Prosecutor's Office in criminal proceedings shall be exercised independently by the prosecutor in the name of the Prosecutor's Office and the prosecutor is governed only by law.

Afin de les protéger contre toute forme d’influence, les procureurs exercent-ils de manière autonome le contrôle de la légalité de la détention ou sont-ils subordonnés à d’autres collègues?

Question 18

Is a prosecutor involved in granting a person’s pardon, amnesty or release, especially in the case of negative effects resulting from the punishment? Do prosecutors supervise criminal records?

For release of a prisoner on parole, the prison shall forward to the court, after the prisoner has served the term of punishment provided for in of the Penal Code, the personal file of the prisoner, the opinion of the probation supervisor concerning the probationary period and the selected obligations to be imposed upon the prisoner and the term for imposition thereof and the consent of the prisoner to application of electronic monitoring if the prisoner applies for release on the basis of the Penal Code. The Court can ask from prosecutor opinion. The judge in charge of execution of court judgments at the county court of the place of execution of a punishment may release a convicted offender on parole after the convicted offender has served the term of punishment provided for in the Penal Code.

Les procureurs participent-ils au processus de grâce, d’amnistie ou de libération des personnes notamment en cas d’effets négatifs de la sanction ? Les procureurs contrôlent-ils les casiers judiciaires ?

Question 19

Are special qualifications and training required of prosecutors who carry out duties in matters of criminal and administrative detention? Please specify. No

Les procureurs bénéficient-ils de qualifications et formations spéciales pour l’accomplissement de leurs tâches en matière de détention et de rétention des personnes? Veuillez préciser.

Question 20

What acts (presentation of conclusions, attend hearings, appeal against court decisions) are prosecutors entitled to carry out during proceedings before judges with jurisdiction over the enforcement of sentences/surveillance judges (“juges de l’application des peines”), in states where such judge exists?  No

If a convicted offender was not kept under arrest during the court proceeding, the county court enforcing the court decision shall send a notice prepared according to the treatment plan to the convicted offender, setting out by which time and to which prison the convicted offender must appear for the service of the sentence. Such notice shall set out that in the case of failure to appear in the prison at the time specified compelled attendance shall be applied to the person.

In states where such a judge does not exist, what acts (release on probation, subsequent alteration of the detention’s enforcement scheme, further restriction of a detainee’s rights, placement in solitary confinement, disciplinary punishment, and so on) are prosecutors entitled to carry out as regards court decisions?

Quelles sont les types d’action (présentation de conclusions, présence à l’audience, appel contre la décision) que le procureur peut accomplir durant la procédure devant le juge d’application des peines, dans les Etats où un tel juge existe?

Dans les Etats dans lesquels un tel juge n’existe pas, quels sont les actes que peut faire un procureur concernant la décision judiciaire (libération avec mise à l’épreuve, modification postérieure du régine d’exécution de la détention, renforcement des restrictions des droits des détenus, placement en isolement/confinement, sanction disciplinaire, etc.) ?

Question 21

When monitoring the enforcement of punishments, do public prosecutors interact with the ombudsman or any other organisation linked to or charged with controlling the enforcement of punishments? If so, what type of interactions are they? Could you give the names of these organisations, whether they be institutional or not, and explain briefly their roles?

In Estonia we have a different system and we can´t answer to this question.

Le procureur qui contrôle l’exécution des sanctions a-t-il des relations, le cas échéant de quels types, avec le médiateur ou d’autres organisations liées au ou chargées du contrôle de l’exécution des sanctions? Pouvez-vous citer ces organisations, institutionnelles ou non, et expliquer brièvement leur rôle ?

Question 22

Could you give other useful information to the preparation of the draft Opinion (relevant questions to add, documents, etc)?

Ministry of Justice  of Estonia Republic The Department of Prisons is the administrative management unit of the prison system with its principal duty of managing, enhancing and supervising work in prisons. The department is led by the Deputy Secretary-General for prisons of the Ministry of Justice and is divided into four divisions. In addition, the adviser and chief chaplain, secretary and the assistant to the Deputy Secretary-General also form part of department personnel.

The competence of the Sentencing Enforcement Division includes:

• supervision and surveillance activities;
• accounting and statistics of imprisoned persons and persons held in custody;
• maintenance of the register of prisoners;
• placement of imprisoned persons and persons held in custody;
• activities of the armed units of prisons;
• security and other safety systems, weapons, ammunition and special equipment of the Ministry and institutions in the area of jurisdiction of the Ministry.

The competence of the Rehabilitation Division includes:

• system of social rehabilitation of imprisoned persons and persons held in custody and social work in prisons;
• probation supervision;
• psychological assistance;
• education and cultural activities of imprisoned persons and persons held in custody;
• health care of imprisoned persons and persons held in custody;
• drug prevention and rehabilitation.

The competence of the Legal and Development Division includes:

• development of the prison organisation;
• legislative drafting;
• accounting, development and training of human resources;
• development of minimum-security imprisonment;
• issues pertaining to prison budgets;
• international cooperation and communication.

The competence of the Internal Control Division includes:

• prevention and detection of offences committed by employees of the Prisons Department and prison officers and, where necessary, carrying out surveillance activities with regard to prison officers;
• collection and analysis of surveillance information and other information received from prisons;
• coordination of protection of state secrets and inspection thereof in prisons;
• organisation and coordination of surveillance activities and criminal proceedings in prisons and coordination of cooperation between prisons and other investigative and surveillance bodies;
• exercising supervisory control over the activities of prisons;
• resolution of petitions, requests and challenges.

Pouvez-vous fournir d’autres informations que vous jugez utile à la préparation du projet d’Avis (questions pertinentes à évoquer, documents, etc.) ?