Key Elements
Detainees have the right to make complaints about any aspect of their treatment or conditions in detention to the prison authorities and independent bodies. Effective complaints procedures help ensure that detainees’ rights are respected and act as a fundamental safeguard against ill-treatment in prisons. These mechanisms will take a variety of forms but they should be accessible, confidential, impartial and thorough, and provide a prompt response with the possibility of appeal. When they have the trust and confidence of staff and detainees, they can benefit all within the prison system.