Rennovation of women’s penitentiary cost over 750,000 euros

The women held in Rusca jail now enjoy better conditions. The authorities say that less than two years after implementing a partnership programme with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and with the NGO Caritas, launched in March 2006, the detention conditions in the prison have improved considerably. According to a communiqué from the project partners, the penitentiary now has new heating, water supply, sewerage, electricity, ventilation and security systems. The sanitary blocks that were outside are now inside and include washstands, bathing cabins and toilets. The former nine large rooms that accommodated by 30-60 women were transformed into 74 rooms for two-six prisoners. There were set up new rooms for individual work with the women prisoners and for psychological rehabilitation. The facade of the detention block was given a facelift and the territory around the block was fitted out. Earlier, the detention conditions did not meet the sanitary, hygiene, illumination and aeration norms, as well as the required temperature levels. The total project cost is 766,000 euro (over 10 mln lei). The Department of Penitentiary Institutions contributed 91,000 euros, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation 542,000 euros, while Caritas 133,000 euros. According to the latest statistics, 265 women are held in the Rusca penitentiary. Five of them are nonaged.