Prisons in UK and Lithuania

There are differences and similarities between prisons in United Kingdom and Lithuania. There are more than 85,000 prisoners in about 160 jails in the UK. In Lithuania there is only one jail and 12 correctional institutions where are held about 9,000 prisoners.
There are four categories for prisoners in the UK prisons:

• Category A prisoners are those whose escape would be highly dangerous to the public or national security;
• Category B prisoners are those who don’t require maximum security, but for whom escape needs to be made very difficult;
• Category C prisoners are those who can’t be trusted in open conditions but who are unlikely to try to escape;
• Category D prisoners are those who can be trusted not to try and escape, and are given the privilege of an open prison.

In Lithuania prisoners are separated into three groups: light group, ordinary gropu and forbidden group. In which group prisoner will be it depends on his behavior in prison.

In UK and Lithuania all prisoners when they arrive in the prison pass through reception which is responsible for checking identities and monitoring numbers. They are also seen by nurse to identify whether a prisoner is a drug addict, whether he uses medications or maybe feeling suicidal.

Accomodation in Lithuania and UK depends on prisons. There could be from single cells to dormitories. Also, there are included recreation areas, showers, offices and a food semery. In cells there are toilets and prisoners are allowed to have a tv.

Living conditions are also different and depends on the prison. As an example we can compare Lukiškės Prison in Lithuania and Chelmsford Prison in the UK. Chelmsford Prison works since 1987 and two new houseblocks were opened in 1996 to relieve overcrowding. While Lukiškės Prison was built in 1904 and since then there were no changes. Lukiškės Prison is overcrowded, much more prisoners held there than there should be. Accomodation at Chelmsford is a mix of old and new but obviously that much more better then in Lukiškės Prison.

Another important issue is education. At Chelmsford Prison, education facilities include a barber`s salon, IT classes and cookery lessons. Lukiškės Prison made a contract with Vilnius Pedagoginis University and prisoners can study. There are 3 death imprisonment convicts who are studying according to that contract. Lecturers visit them, they have computers in their cells.

In UK prisoner`s breakfast, dinner and supper cost an average of 3,81 per day. In Lithuania, for adult prisoner food is also served 3 times per day and for tax payers it costs 4,2 Lt per day. For juveniles food is served 4 times per day and feeding for one juvenile per day costs 7,88 Lt.

In conclusion, I would like to say that Lukiškės Prison do not accord to EU prison quality and living conditions are very poor. In England situation of prisons are better.