Happy anniversary? 10 years since the establishment of preventive detention in poland

Abstract

The 10th anniversary of the National Center for the Prevention of Dissocial Behaviour prompts reflections on its functioning. Unfortunately, in addition to an increasing population of patients isolated from society and rising expenditures, we have not seen fundamental changes. These are necessary in the law of 22 November 2013, which is the legal basis for the creation of the Center, as well as in the philosophy of the operation of this type of detention facilities. The article presents the CPT’s recommendations and observations included in a report that was published in 2024, following a visit to the Center in 2022. The article presents the latest statistics, information on cases communicated to the Polish government before the ECtHR. It provides an assessment of the current status of the National Center after a decade since its establishment, and at a time when it is possible to believe that the Ministry of Justice, together with the Ministry of Health, will proceed with legislative and conceptual changes.