Audit office report highlights management and safety issues in central prisons

The Audit Office of Cyprus presented its 2023 report on the Department of Prisons to the Parliamentary Audit Committee on Thursday. Auditor General Andreas Papakonstantinou stated that the report focuses on internal procedures and institutional culture, noting that some problems cannot be resolved solely by building new facilities. Audit Director Akis Kikas highlighted the issue of overcrowding and mentioned that the recidivism rate for released prisoners remains high, between 15% and 20%. The report also identified fire safety deficiencies, specifically a limited number of emergency exits, which officials hope will be addressed through future construction. Furthermore, it was noted that only 40 tracking devices are currently available for inmates eligible for home confinement with monitoring bracelets. Mr. Papakonstantinou announced that an additional report regarding detention conditions and prison food services will be published after the upcoming parliamentary elections.