Évora prison has received another visitor, this time it was the turn of union man António Ramos (SPP/PSP) who emerged with a litany of complaints about overcrowding and the lack of services.
Ramos reported that Évora prison is overcrowded because at present it has 49 detainees, which is “more than it should have."
The leader of the Union of Police Professionals (SPP/PSP) who did not know what the maximum capacity is at Évora, but he said it was overcrowded none-the-less.
Ramos said that not only were there too many people in the jail but that the detainees have no social worker or counselling.
The official was speaking to reporters as he left the prison today where he had spent the morning with ‘virtually all’ the detainees in a session where he collected prisoner complaints.
The former Prime Minister José Sócrates "did not attend the session" where the lack of social workers, psychological support and vocational training were pointed out by prisoners, all made worse by the recent breakdown of the washing machine which means the men have to “wash their clothes by hand and dry them in the windows of the cells."
The prison management said that some of the issues have been resolved and some are pending.
The union leader added that during the afternoon, a delegation of the SPP/PSP will return to Évora in prison to deliver some Bolo do Rei to inject some Christmas cheer in the lives being led behind bars, sometimes as many as two to a cell.
Last year’s report from the Committee against Torture at the Council of Europe exposes the grim reality of life in Portugals’ general prison system.
'Prisons are rife with gang violence, overcrowding and poor health care with the Government saying it is taking action, but budget problems have delayed any improvements.
'Overcrowding last year around 150% and rising, with the Council of Europe concerned with the often appalling prison conditions with damp cells, no toilets, broken windows, damaged mattresses, and a lack of natural light'
The report did not note any problems caused by broken domestic appliances.
Other points of concern include the lack of adequate health care within prisons, violence in prison, and the excessive cell time for prisoners due to a lack of staff.
Hopefully those tucked up in Évora prison will weather the storm and emerge with freshly laundered shirts and a more positive attitude towards their fellow man.
