The prison in Koper is an institution for male offenders who have

sentences duration of up to one year and six months. Rarely, prisoners with

longer sentences stays in the Koper prison - mainly those who live in

the coast region.

At the moment, 30 prisoners are there. Fifty person are waiting for the end of

trial in the prison. Institution offers no group therapy, only first interviews and individual

medical therapy for those who have psychological or psychiatric problems.

Prisoners have a possibility to participate in a therapeutic

programme within the prison. A pedagogue leads small therapy groups, where

different themes are discussed: about their situation while serving the

sentence, self-help, life after the sentence, about family and friends. A

social worker leads the therapeutic group that deals with post-penal

problems.

Once a week, there is a therapeutic group where all prisoners and

staff came together and talk about different issues.

If a drug user included in a methadone maintenance programme came to

prison, is obliged take a part in detoxification programme.

According to the prison staff, this does usually not pose problems. In

cases where detoxification might cause major health problems, prisoner can

remain on methadone maintenance programme during the sentence. Group

and individual counselling (by a psychologist and pedagogue) is

available for all drug users in prison.

There are sixty people working in the prison in Koper. Most of them are

guardians with different professional qualifications - but all of them have

secondary school education, some even a faculty degree. Counsellors have a

range of professional qualifications: psychology, pedagogy, social

work, sociology, or law.

Literature about drug prevention and harm reduction is offered to all

inmates and discussions in the therapy-group addresses also this topic.

Testing for HIV and Hepatitis is available. Condoms are on disposal in the

prison (bathrooms). Regularly, professionals from the outside (Institute of

Health Care) are coming to prison to discuss issues related to HIV and

Hepatitis with staff and inmates.

The prison will have to leave its premises (an old monastery in the

centre of Koper) in the near future, due to "de-nationalisation". A

discussion about new building for the prison has already started. It will

also be located in Koper. It is hoped that prisoners and staff will have

much better working conditions in the new environment.