In several penal correctional institutions (PCIs) in Serbia, 4280 convicts have decided to forgo one meal in favour of the poorest pensioners and other economically disadvantaged groups, thus giving support to the population under the extraordinary circumstances created by the risk of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread. These convicts are serving their sentence in the country’s largest PCIs located in Sremska Mitrovica, Niš and Požarevac (Zabela), as well as in the District Prison of Novi Sad – the second largest detention facility in Serbia.
The idea of forgoing a ready-to-eat meal ration (the so-called ‘dry meal’), which they get on Sundays for dinner, came from the convicts themselves as that was their way of assisting the poorest citizens. In consultation with local crisis committees, the PCIs concerned will take part in preparing packs which will be further distributed to those who are currently most in need.
It should be noted that on 12 March 2020 the PCI for women in Požarevac and the PCIs in Sremska Mitrovica and Niš started the production of face masks in their sewing workshops to assist the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The masks are to meet the demand for this product across the entire penal sanctions enforcement system. Mask production is another in a series of protection measures taken by the Penal Sanctions Enforcement Administration against the spread of COVID-19 without imposing any additional burden on the Serbian budget.
All PCIs arrange visits in accordance with prevention and protection measures.