Prisons in Themiclesia

The Themiclesian prison system is the nation's correctional facility. It is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Judicial Administration, who reports to the Ministry of Left People (Themiclesia's home office). As of 2017, there are currently 233 prisons, housing 33,550 prisoners under incarceration sentences. The average prison has 180 cells, houses 143 prisoners, and has a staff of 53. The prison system is administered under the Prisons Act of 1840, which has been amended over 30 times since enactment, generally for the provision of more humane conditions and better access to reformatory services.

History

The Prisons Act was enacted in 1840, after foreigners sentenced to imprisonment in Themiclesia complained to their home governments about conditions therein, which were quite appalling by modern standards. Thatched roofs, earthen walls, and hay flooring were aspects of prison that were long gone and the stuff of historical fiction in contemporary Casaterra. By the Prison Act, the government of Themiclesia began to reform its correctional system, which then were attached to local government offices and administered thereby. Most prisons were simply rows of cells constructed out of a wooden stakes, over which went thatch, and under which hay, with no walls. A dedicated department to administer prisons was established, and the power to establish standards beyond those found in primary legislation was formally vested in the central government.

Due to the presence of other national priorities, prison welfare did not receive sufficient government attention in funds to see immediate improvements, though through organized prison labour, some fixes were impelemented on a national scale. By 1850, most prisons had replaced thatched roofs and hay flooring with ceramics. Better insulation against the weather was also given priority by building more walls around prison complexes. In 1867, the first multi-storey prison building entered service. Until this point, there had been no positive legislation about the size of cells and the provision of amenities therein, and the 1867 prison, located close to Lok-iang, made no noticeable improvements; however, since traditionally cells were quire spacious, that prison also had fairly spacious cells, each measuring 25m², occupying one bay each between the structure's pillars. There not being toilets within the structure, prisoners were escorted to the latrine beyond the building individually whenever they signalled a need; this represented something of a retrogression from older prisons, which had far more convenient access to latrines.

By custom, prison staff had to provide two meals a day to prisoners, and the imperial court did periodically issue edicts requiring prison staff to take good care of its inmates; to whatever degree this was implemented, it was judged deficient, and inspectors from the central government were dispatched to oversee the provision of food to prisoners in 1870. One year later, staffing quotas in prisons were increased. Themiclesian prisons from time immemorial always housed prisoners individually, and this tradition was continued into the modern age.

Conditions

Per the requirements of the Prisons Act, prisons must possess more cells than the number of prisoners currently assigned to its custody, and each prisoner must be entitled to a cell. Each cell is to have a flushing toilet with a cover, a sink with running water, a bed and stuffed mattress on it, and a window. From 1970, each cell is also served by a dumbwaiter, through which food, fresh laundry, and other items to which the prisoner is entitled are delivered. All are further regulated by executive ordinances as to dimensions and quality. Prisons are subject to the Construction Standards Act, Fire Prevention Act, and Building Capacity Act as much as normal buildings, respectively requiring sound structures, fire prevention and evacuation procedures, and maximum safe capacity in a building given its ventilation infrastructure and utility provision.

Currently, a statutory cell in Themiclesia measures 3m by 4m, with the shorter side facing the corridor. Most cells are considerably roomier, however. Also, given the legal requirement that prisoners are entitled to the right of equality, prison staff may not select favourites amongst its inmates and to them grant privileges.

Amenities in Themiclesian prisons include visitation rooms, phone booths, postal service, laundering facilities, infirmaries, libraries, and canteens. Outdoors, most prisons also possess tennis courts, squash courts, and putting greens; expansive gardens were ordered by the government to give the facility a less hostile image. A certain prison governor was also the subject of a noise complaint—of a karioke marathon in the middle of the night. Aside from visitation rooms, all other amenities are only accessible by staff members and visitors.

Routine

There is no set daily routine in Themiclesia's prisons. Prisoners may spent their time in the cell in whatever way they desire, though food is delivered via dumbwaiter at 6 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m. each day.

Every three months, prisoners are brought to a physician for to be examined for illnesses.

Security

A cell is separated from the corridor by means of a heavy metal gate, with nothing more than a peep-hole on it, secured by two locks from the outside. One is opened by a master key that is possessed by certain prison staff members, and the other is centrally kept by a dispensing device under the watch of the prison governor; the device only dispenses a key to one cell at one time, and it will not dispense another until the first one is returned. This control system can be overridden by an emergency alarm, which is activated at times of fire or flooding, requiring the immediate evacuation of all prisoners held. Prisons are also generally surrounded by multiple layers of brick-and-mortar walls that encircle its uncovered premises, so in the case of fire, prisoners may evacuate themselves to the clearing but not beyond its walls.

Reputation

Themiclesian prisons have been world-renowned for its excellent hygiene, order, security, pleasantness, and complete lack of violence. In fact, Themiclesia has not had a recorded case of prison violence or escape since the end of the Pan-Septentrion War. This has led to prisons not being segregated from cities, and most home-buyers are not adverse to a site proximal or even adjoining a prison.

However, critics allege that the appearance of peace and order are achieved through extreme confinement of prisoners and the total deprivation of any physical and empirical contact with the world beyond his cell. No prisoner is permitted to exit from his cell at any time, except for verified medical emergencies. Mental illness and suicide are also prominent issues in Themiclesian prisons, with some estimating that a prisoner only has a 12% chance of emerging from a prison alive and without mental health issues. 8% of all prisoners in Themiclesia attempt to commit suicide, and around ¼ of those cases result in a fatality.