Report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture visit to Caribbean Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

25 August 2014

to the Government of the Netherlands on the visit to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 12 to 22 May 2014

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CONTENTS

Copy of the letter transmitting the CPT’s report………………………………………………………………….6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ………………………………………………………………………………………………….7

I. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………….11

  1. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation ……………………………………………………11
  2. Context of the visit and constitutional structure…………………………………………………………11
  3. Establishments visited……………………………………………………………………………………………….13
  4. Consultations held by the delegation and co-operation encountered……………………………13
  5. Immediate observations under Article 8, paragraph 5, of the Convention …………………..14
  6. National Preventive Mechanism ………………………………………………………………………………..15

II. FACTS FOUND DURING THE VISIT AND ACTION PROPOSED …………………………16

BONAIRE ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..16

  1. Police ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..16
    2. Safeguards against ill-treatment …………………………………………………………………………..17
    3. Conditions of detention ………………………………………………………………………………………19
  2. Dutch Caribbean Correctional Institution – JICN………………………………………………………21
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..21
    2. Conditions of detention ………………………………………………………………………………………22
      1. material conditions…………………………………………………………………………………….22
      2. regime………………………………………………………………………………………………………22
      3. juveniles……………………………………………………………………………………………………23
      4. women ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..25
    3. Health-care services……………………………………………………………………………………………26
    4. Other issues……………………………………………………………………………………………………….28
      1. prison staff………………………………………………………………………………………………..28
      2. contact with the outside world …………………………………………………………………….28
      3. discipline ………………………………………………………………………………………………….29
      4. complaints and inspection procedures………………………………………………………….29

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ARUBA …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….31

  1. Police ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….31
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..31
    2. Ill-treatment ………………………………………………………………………………………………………32
    3. Safeguards against ill-treatment …………………………………………………………………………..32
      1. introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………32
      2. notification of custody ………………………………………………………………………………..32
      3. access to a lawyer ……………………………………………………………………………………..33
      4. access to a doctor ………………………………………………………………………………………34
      5. information on rights and custody records ……………………………………………………35
      6. investigations into complaints of police ill-treatment……………………………………..35
    4. Conditions of detention ………………………………………………………………………………………36
  2. Centro Dakota Immigration Detention Facility ………………………………………………………….39
  3. Aruba Correctional Institution (KIA)………………………………………………………………………..42
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..42
    2. Ill-treatment ………………………………………………………………………………………………………42
    3. Conditions of detention ………………………………………………………………………………………43
      1. material conditions…………………………………………………………………………………….43
      2. regime………………………………………………………………………………………………………44
      3. juveniles……………………………………………………………………………………………………44
      4. women prisoners ……………………………………………………………………………………….45
      5. Vulnerable persons’ unit (IBA) ……………………………………………………………………46
    4. Prison staff………………………………………………………………………………………………………..46
    5. Health-care services……………………………………………………………………………………………48
      1. health-care staffing and premises ………………………………………………………………..48
      2. medical screening, recording of injuries and confidentiality …………………………..49
    6. Other issues……………………………………………………………………………………………………….52
      1. discipline ………………………………………………………………………………………………….52
      2. contact with the outside world …………………………………………………………………….54
      3. complaints and inspection procedures………………………………………………………….55
  4. Psychiatric Department (PAAZ) at Dr Horacio Oduber Hospital……………………………….57
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..57
    2. Patients’ living conditions and treatment ………………………………………………………………57
    3. Staff …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………58
    4. Seclusion and means of restraint ………………………………………………………………………….58
    5. Safeguards ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..59
      1. initial placement procedure ………………………………………………………………………..59
      2. safeguards during placement ………………………………………………………………………60

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CURAÇAO ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….62

  1. Police ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….62
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..62
    2. Ill-treatment ………………………………………………………………………………………………………64
    3. Safeguards against ill-treatment …………………………………………………………………………..65
      1. introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………65
      2. notification of custody ………………………………………………………………………………..65
      3. access to a lawyer ……………………………………………………………………………………..66
      4. access to a doctor ………………………………………………………………………………………67
      5. information on rights………………………………………………………………………………….68
      6. electronic recording of police interviews………………………………………………………68
      7. custody records …………………………………………………………………………………………69
    4. Conditions of detention ………………………………………………………………………………………69
  2. Centre for Detention and Correction Curaçao – SDKK………………………………………………73
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..73
    2. Ill-treatment ………………………………………………………………………………………………………74
    3. Conditions of detention ………………………………………………………………………………………75
      1. material conditions…………………………………………………………………………………….75
      2. regime………………………………………………………………………………………………………75
      3. juveniles and young adults ………………………………………………………………………….76
      4. women prisoners ……………………………………………………………………………………….77
    4. Prison staff………………………………………………………………………………………………………..78
    5. Health-care services……………………………………………………………………………………………79
      1. staffing, premises, financing and organisation ………………………………………………79
      2. medical screening, recording of injuries and confidentiality …………………………..81
      3. deaths in custody ……………………………………………………………………………………….82
      4. FOBA……………………………………………………………………………………………………….83
    6. Other issues……………………………………………………………………………………………………….84
      1. discipline ………………………………………………………………………………………………….84
      2. segregation of prisoners……………………………………………………………………………..87
      3. complaints and inspection procedures………………………………………………………….87
  3. Juvenile Youth Institute Curaçao………………………………………………………………………………90
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..90
    2. Conditions of detention ………………………………………………………………………………………91
    3. Staff …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………92
    4. Health care………………………………………………………………………………………………………..92
    5. Other issues……………………………………………………………………………………………………….93
  4. Illegalen Barakken Immigration Detention Facility……………………………………………………94

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E. Klínika Capriles Psychiatric Institution …………………………………………………………………….97

  1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………..97
  2. Patients’ living conditions and treatment ………………………………………………………………97
  3. Staff …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………98
  4. Seclusion and means of restraint ………………………………………………………………………….98
  5. Safeguards ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..99
    1. the initial placement decision and discharge…………………………………………………99
    2. safeguards during placement …………………………………………………………………….101

SINT MAARTEN ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………103

  1. Police ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..103
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………103
    2. Ill-treatment …………………………………………………………………………………………………….104
    3. Safeguards against ill-treatment …………………………………………………………………………104
    4. Philipsburg Police Station …………………………………………………………………………………106
    5. Juveniles in detention ……………………………………………………………………………………….107
  2. Point Blanche Prison……………………………………………………………………………………………….109
    1. Preliminary remarks …………………………………………………………………………………………109
    2. Ill-treatment …………………………………………………………………………………………………….110
    3. Conditions of detention …………………………………………………………………………………….112
      1. Point Blanche main Prison ……………………………………………………………………….112
      2. Simpson Bay Remand Centre …………………………………………………………………….113
    4. Prison staff………………………………………………………………………………………………………114
    5. Health-care services………………………………………………………………………………………….115
    6. Other issues……………………………………………………………………………………………………..117

APPENDIX:
List of the national authorities and organisations
with which the CPT’s delegation held consultations………………………………………………….120