SPPH called Minister Habijan to call an emergency meeting: "The prison system is on the verge of collapse"

The Croatian judicial police union issued an urgent call on Saturday for Justice Minister Damir Habijan to convene an immediate meeting with all trade unions representing prison staff. The union, known as the Judicial Police Union of Croatia, stated that the country's prison system is on the verge of collapse due to deteriorating conditions and severe staffing shortages. In a statement published on its social media page, the group demanded that the minister and responsible officials sit at the table to review actual statistics, acknowledge the depth of the crisis, and jointly develop a rescue plan for the system. The union described the current situation as one where the reality on the ground ranges from minimal functionality to total disintegration. They accused the Ministry of Justice, Administration, and Digital Transformation of repeating the same promises year after year, such as building new prisons, hiring more personnel, and passing a new law regarding the judicial police. According to the union, these announcements have not translated into tangible improvements for the officers and civil servants who work daily within the facilities. The statement emphasized that employees deserve truth, security, and concrete solutions rather than further empty pledges. Specific grievances cited in the release included overcrowded inmate cells that were packed beyond capacity. The union noted that furniture had been removed from rooms to make space for additional mattresses placed directly on the floor. Beds were reportedly found in prison corridors, highlighting the lack of adequate sleeping arrangements. A critical shortage of judicial police officers was identified as another major factor contributing to the instability of the system. The union argued that the sustainability of the prison infrastructure should be measured by real field conditions, not by polished press releases or public relations efforts. In a separate warning released the same day, the Union of State and Local Civil Servants and Officials pointed to a specific crisis in healthcare staffing at the Zagreb Prison. Three nurses resigned from their positions there within the last month. Due to this deficit in medical personnel, judicial police officers have been forced to assist in distributing medication to inmates. This shift in duties underscores the strain on non-medical staff and highlights the broader resource constraints affecting the facility. The union’s statement, titled "Prison System on the Brink of Collapse," addressed both the general public and competent institutions. It expressed a deep sense of responsibility in bringing attention to the alarming state of Croatian prisons, asserting that the issues can no longer be ignored or swept under the rug. The text criticized the ministry for selling a narrative of progress while officials engaged in repetitive rhetoric. The union warned that the crisis is no longer a matter of years or months but has become a question of days before a genuine systemic failure occurs. Minister Habijan heads the Ministry of Justice, Administration, and Digital Transformation. He is the official targeted by the union’s demand for an emergency session. The request specifically called for a gathering with all syndicates representing workers in the prison system. The union insisted that this step was the only correct, professional, and responsible action available to the minister and other decision-makers. They urged for transparency, demanding that real data be opened up and the severity of the problems be admitted openly. The dispute centers on the gap between official communications and operational realities. While authorities have previously announced plans for expansion and legislative reform, the union contends that the daily experience of prison staff contradicts these claims. The union members feel that their warnings have been dismissed in favor of political messaging. By publishing the statement publicly, the union aimed to pressure the government into taking immediate administrative action. The focus remains on preventing a total breakdown of order and safety within the detention facilities. No response from the Ministry of Justice or Minister Habijan was immediately available following the publication of the union's statement. The union did not announce plans for strikes or other forms of industrial action, focusing instead on the diplomatic channel of requesting a high-level meeting. The emphasis in their communication remained on finding a joint solution through dialogue rather than confrontation. The inclusion of specific examples, such as the resignation of nurses in Zagreb, serves to illustrate the human cost of the understaffing and resource deficits. The situation reflects long-standing tensions between prison administration and labor representatives in Croatia. Issues of overcrowding and staffing levels have been recurring topics in public discourse. However, the union characterized the current moment as distinct due to the immediacy of the threat. They rejected the idea that the problem could be managed over time, insisting that the structural weaknesses require instant intervention. The call for a "rescue plan" suggests a comprehensive overhaul of management practices and resource allocation is needed. The union’s message highlighted the need for accountability. They felt that previous assurances from the ministry had failed to materialize into improved working conditions or safer environments for inmates and staff alike. By invoking the concept of "bitter facts," the union sought to ground its complaints in observable evidence rather than abstract policy debates. The presence of beds in hallways and the reliance of police officers on medical tasks serve as concrete indicators of the system's stress levels. As the week progresses, attention will likely turn to whether the minister accepts the invitation to meet. The outcome of such a negotiation could determine the stability of the prison service in the coming weeks. The union maintains that without a clear path forward, the risk of operational failure increases daily. Their stance is firm: enough promises have been made, and now is the time for actionable results. The public nature of the statement ensures that the issue remains visible to citizens and other oversight bodies. The dual involvement of two different unions, one specific to judicial police and the other to general civil servants, indicates a broad coalition of concern among prison workers. Both groups point to similar underlying causes: insufficient resources and inadequate planning. The specific mention of the Zagreb Prison provides a localized case study of the national problem. The departure of skilled medical staff exacerbates the burden on remaining personnel, creating a cycle of increased workload and potential burnout. The union’s language was direct and devoid of ambiguity. Terms like "total disintegration" and "question of days" convey the urgency felt by the workforce. They challenged the ministry to move beyond standard public relations tactics and engage with the hard data of the operation. The goal is to restore confidence in the system’s ability to function safely and legally. Until a meeting takes place, the status quo remains precarious, with staff continuing to manage operations under strained conditions.