Analysis provided by: Barbara Nazareth Andrade de Oliveira, Legal Expert.

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The penitentiary system inCroatiaexperienced major changes in the last few years mainly due to the entering into force of the Law on the Execution of Prison Sentences in 2001.

Currently, the prison services are under the responsibility of the Minister of Justice. Its overall management is carried out by the Director of theDirectorate for Penitentiary System, who is also the Assistant Minister of Justice.

Up to end of 2003, there were around 2800 prisoners detained amongst the total of 23 prison establishments inCroatia. Out of these almost 34 % wereunconvictedprisoners.

The Law on the Execution of Prison Sentences is the main legislation for the treatment of inmates by Croatian prison administration. As its name suggests, it regulates the treatment of convicted prisoners.

This law defines the basic principles for the execution of prison sentences, the types of prisons and regimes, rights of prisoners, reception procedure and accommodation of inmates and treatmentprogrammesfor inmates amongst other areas. Generally speaking, this Law is an excellent piece of legislation. It can be,

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