The conditions in correctional institutions across North Macedonia remain deplorable, as highlighted in the latest report from the State Audit Office (SAO). The report sheds light on the severe overcrowding in cells, the lack of hygiene, dampness, insufficient medical staff, and inadequate infrastructure investments as some of the most critical issues facing the prison system.
The most alarming situation is observed in the Idrizovo Prison, the largest penal institution in the country, where overcrowding and the deteriorating state of the facilities are the primary concerns. However, conditions are similarly poor in other prisons across the country, according to the report.
"The reception area and the medical unit in Idrizovo are in unacceptable conditions: cells with holes, dirty and damaged walls, trash, and filthy mattresses," the report emphasizes. Meanwhile, in the Skopje Prison, detainees are forced to eat and perform basic physiological needs in the same spaces. In the Kumanovo Prison, the major issue revolves around the lack of drinking water—an essential human right.
Beyond the physical conditions, the system also suffers from a significant shortage of medical staff and prison officers. "There is no comprehensive healthcare for detainees due to the lack of medical personnel. The insufficient number of prison officers has led to increased costs for overtime hours, and lawsuits filed by employees for extra hours and other compensations have significantly raised judicial expenses," the report notes.
Inadequate finances and the lack of concrete actions from relevant institutions have hindered efforts to improve the situation. The report concludes that current measures are insufficient to address the systemic problems. To this end, the SAO has proposed a package of 26 measures that require urgent implementation, primarily by the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions.
The report calls for a complete overhaul of the prison system, with a focus on improving basic living conditions, increasing staffing levels, and ensuring adequate medical care for prisoners. Without these changes, the situation in North Macedonia’s prisons is likely to worsen, further exacerbating human rights concerns within the country's penal system.