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Operator and observer
Polish Prison Service
Lieut. MSc. Cezary Mecwaldowski
Senior Inspector of the IT and Education Technology Department
at the Central Training Centre of Prison Service in Kalisz
Author of research may 2015
Photos: archive of Polish Prison Service
It is not enough to have eyes..
to see…
This is an average number of cameras
in the Polish prison..
A control room and an operator
up to 2009 –before changes
•Distributing special keys
Officer’s duties:
•Video surveillance
•The operator of electronic security
systems (alarm systems, access control)
•Answering phone calls, faxes
•Coordination of radio communication
What happend in 2009?
It was a time of modifications in the Criminal Executive
Code in October 2009
Prisons can be monitored by an internal image and sound
recording systems and devices, including the CCTV system among
others.. (Art. 73a.)
Modifications in the Criminal Executive Code
October 2009
Offender's behawior is subject to continuous monitoring, as
referred to in Art. 88 §3 and Art. §88a 2, in cells with areas set
aside for sanitary purposes and in places and spaces, referred to
in Art. 88b point 1. Monitored image or sound shall be recorded.
(Art. 88c. )
Modifications in the Criminal Executive Code
October 2009
In justified cases due to medical reasons or the need to ensure
safety of convict's behavior can be monitored. Monitored image
or sound shall be recorded.
(Art. 116 §5a.)
Modifications in the Criminal Executive Code
October 2009
Behavior of the detainee is subject to continuous monitoring,
referred to in Art. 212a §1 and 4, in a residential purposes with
areas set aside for sanitary purposes and in places and areas,
referred to in §1 point 1 Monitored image or sound shall be
recorded (Art. 212b. §2.).
regarding the type of equipment and technical means used to transmit, render and record
the audio or video monitoring in prisons.
Regulation of the Minister of Justice of 16 October 2009.
regarding security cell and insulating chambers.
The soundproof room is covered by the internal system of recording equipment.
Decree of the Minister of Justice on 23 January 2014.
Other regulations related to monitoring
regarding selection and application of physical security measures used to protect classified
information.
Regulation of the Minister of Justice of 3 June 2013.
The first action,
implemented in connection with modifications
in the Criminal Executive Code
was installation of cameras inside the cells
Based on the examination of the National Preventive Mechanism
Ombudsman at the end of 2011, right after the introduction of
modifications in the Criminal Executive Code on monitoring:
•700 spaces in penitentiaries given for monitoring
•installation of 1 900 additional cameras
Due to changes in the Criminal Executive Code
the liability of officers as observers increased
•There was a need for changes in the position of the operator
in valid procedures
•Separation of the position of the observer in the guardroom from
control of electronic security systems, communications and other
duties
•Creation of the position of an observer inside residential blocks,
closer to supervised inmates
•Introduction of changes to an observer’s time: It was every 12
hours - 4 hours replaced by
OPERATOR OBSERVER
/
Facultative observation Obligatory observation
Where is the best solution regarding prisoners
security and effectiveness of the observer?
(due to his responsibility)
The effectiveness of the observer CCTV system
depends on many factors
•predispositions
•well-being
•sex of an observer
•technical conditions of a control room
•all disturbances in an observation process
•use of system procedures
•observation time
•during an observation replacement of an observer
•and others
Examples of position of operators / observers
"Jammer" process of observation - effectiveness of an operator
Statistics COSSW - May 2015
The study included 153 prisons and remand centres (99%) with 25 external units (70%)
Total Average per prison
Number
of cameras in Polish prisons 14 103 80
Number
of cameras in cells (total) 1 405 9
in residential cells 449 3
in high-security cells for „dangerous”291 8
in security cells 285 1,9
in solitary confinement cells 185 1,5
in temporary cells 104 0,7
in hospital cells 91 0,7
Number
of cameras in sanitary corners 811 5
N
umber of prisoners subject to video surveillance inside cell 1 096 7
N
umber of officers performing video surveillance 931 5
N
umber of monitors monitored by a single operator 8
N
umber of cameras monitored by a single operator 39
H
ow often observers are replaced during the observation [in hours
]
2
Comparison of study of the National Preventive Mechanism
Ombudsman (NPMO) from the end of 2011
and of the COSSW from May 2015
NPMO COSSW
N
umber of tested penitentiary units 130 178
Number
of cameras in Polish prisons 9 934 14 103
A
verage number of cameras per penitentiary unit 76,5 80
N
umber of monitored high-security cells (only video) 371 291
N
umber of monitored solitary confinement cells (only video) 108 185
N
umber of monitored residential cells (without sanitary corners) 84 170
N
umber of monitored residential cells (with sanitary corners) 72 279
N
umber of monitored security cells
247 (237 with sound)
285 (282 with
sound
)
N
umber of monitored vestibule of security cells 27 (18 with sound)
204
(127 with sound
)
N
umber of monitored temporary cells 63 (5 with sound) 104 (5 with sound)
N
umber of monitored hospital cells 60 91
N
umber of monitored visitation rooms 335 248
N
umber of monitored bath rooms 63 22
N
umber of monitored clubs 207 108
Comparison of study of the National Preventive Mechanism
Ombudsman (NPMO) from the end of 2011
and the COSSW from May 2015
The quantity of installed cameras
The quantity of penitentiary units
NPMO COSSW
up to 50 cameras 52 70
from 51 to 100 cameras 44 63
from 101 to 150 cameras 24 24
from 151 to 200 cameras 7 12
more than 201 cameras 3
9
(inside 2 units there are
more than 410 cameras)
Statistics COSSW - May 2015
13 11 63719
29
68 75
142
120 119
136
99 97
33
51 40
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
security cell solitary
confinement
cell
residential cell high-security
cell
temporary cell hospital cell
Does an observer observes other images from cameras
in the penitentiary unit, during supervising the prisoners
in cells?
No Not applicable Yes
Statistics COSSW - May 2015
39 37 30 13 16 28
29
68 75
142
120 119
110
73 73
23
42 31
0
50
100
150
security cell solitary
confinement
cell
residential cell high-security
cell
temporary cell hospital cell
Does an observer performs other duties while observing
images from the cells, when the prisoners are staying in a cell
(such as answering phone calls, controls the transitions)?
No Not applicable Yes
Statistics COSSW - May 2015
47% 53%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
No Yes
Has an observer been trained to perform
his duties?
Statistics COSSW - May 2015
1%
70%
2%
17%
10%
Who conducts training of an observer?
External company
IT and communication
technology officer
Quartermaster/logistic
officer
Security officer
No training
Statistics from reported incidents
related to suicide attempts and self-aggression
Year Suicide attempts Suicide Self-aggression
2009 265 39 592
2010 221 31 450
2011 199 16 205
2012 141 16 96
2013 176 17 51
2014 175 12(2)+ 36
2015 65 8
According to the statistics of events, video surveillance enables to detect
attempted suicide and allows for quick response –
At least in 4 cases since the beginning of 2015
The proposed trends of action in Prison Service
•Verifying the suitability of the officers carrying out the functions of observers
•Optimizing control room/guardroom
•Specific training for operators/observers –how to operate the CCTV system and
how to identify social and psychological threats in the behavior of the prisoner
•Integrating alarm systems thereby increasing the effectiveness of an observer
•The introduction of new technologies to support work of observers:
•Digital, high-resolution cameras,
•Cameras 360⁰ and 180⁰
•Thermal imaging cameras
•Intelligent image analysis
•The description of events should include information about events, that occured in
a monitored cell or other monitored area, in order to examine the impact of
monitoring on the safety of the individual.
Now..
You can see..