"Black Dolphin" is a famous prison in which convicts for the most serious crimes have to serve their sentences. A strict daily routine and compliance with increased security measures are a guarantee of the impossibility of escaping from the institution.
Prison history
The Black Dolphin Prison is one of the most famous correctional institutions in Russia. Its official name is Correctional Colony No. 6 of the Office of the Federal Penitentiary Service in the Orenburg Region. It contains more than 800 prisoners and, at the same time, the number of personnel is more than 900 people. The most dangerous criminals are serving time in this prison. Almost all of them were sentenced to life.
The history of the establishment of this institution began in 1973, when, after the suppression of the Pugachev riot, there was a need for a place for exile for people who violated law and order. Since then, the building has been restored several times, but not completely rebuilt. In different years, different categories of prisoners were kept within its walls, but it has always been and remains a prison. In the 18th century, criminals from all over Russia were sent to the Black Dolphin. Not all of them were serving life sentences and after their release they had no right to leave the territory of the region, but remained in the settlement.
The prison got its unofficial name thanks to the installation of a sculpture of a black dolphin in front of its entrance. It was made by the prisoners themselves.
Prison location
The prison is located at st. Sovetskaya, 6, Sol-Iletsk, Orenburg region, 461505. For most of the prisoners, the way to it is a one-way road. With visits to the institution, everything is quite strict, but rare visits with relatives are still possible. You can get to the penal colony from anywhere in Russia by train or by bus, or by car to Sol-Iletsk, and then use public transport.
Features of the detention of prisoners
"Black Dolphin" is an institution that is considered one of the most stringent. In terms of harsh conditions of detention, it can be compared with the White Swan colony located in Solikamsk. All Black Dolphin prisoners are required to abide by the rules. Convicted persons cannot:
- lie on the bed during the hours not reserved for sleep;
- when leaving the chamber, straighten the body to its full height;
- talk freely with the guards.
The day at the Black Dolphin begins at 6 am. After getting up, the convicts perform hygiene procedures and make the bed. Some time after the ascent, a check begins on the zone. Prison staff go around the cells, check the prisoners, inspect the premises.
When the guard appears, the convicts must turn to face the wall and bend over, turning their arms with their backs back. Further, the prisoners must take turns to greet in a certain form and the cell leader is obliged to name the data of all cellmates serving a sentence, listing the articles of the Criminal Code.
By order of the warden, the convict must run up to the bars with his back, bend down and stand in a 90-degree position, stretch out his hands through the window of the door so that the officer can put handcuffs on them. Handcuffs are always put on very tightly so that the hands become numb and numb. In a bent state, with their arms twisted back, the convicts move around the prison. Each is accompanied by 3 escorts and a dog handler with a dog. So criminals are taken out for a walk every day. When moving from corps to corps or when entering the courtyard, convicts are blindfolded. This measure is provided so that the criminals do not see where they are being taken, how the buildings in the institution are located. While in the camera, they can only see a small portion of the sky. In the exercise yard, they too can only see the sky above their heads and are unable to assess their surroundings.
In their free time, prisoners can:
- read a book from the prison library;
- watch TV during the hours strictly allotted for this (relatives bring TV);
- chat with camera mates;
- play checkers.
All cells in the prison are designed for 2-3 people, but very many are solitary. Especially dangerous criminals prone to cannibalism are kept in solitary confinement. Inmates are selected very carefully. An obligatory procedure is preliminary testing, observation of the convict, and a conversation with a psychologist.
There are rounds in the prison every 15 minutes. This measure allows maintaining the security of the detention of criminals at a high level. Food is brought directly to the prisoners' cell and passed through a special window. The criminals are in prison under 24-hour video surveillance. Cameras are even located in the toilet. A whole staff of operators monitors images from cameras and monitors possible violations.
Another feature of the content in "Black Dolphin" is that the lights in the cells are not turned off around the clock. The inmates even sleep with the lights on.
The colony-settlement also belongs to the correctional institution. The prisoners work there without an escort and live in hostels. It is known that it has never been possible to escape from the prison itself, but there have been several cases of excommunication from the colony-settlement. The fugitives were returned to compulsory labor.
Meeting with relatives mode
Those convicted under grave offenses are supposed to meet with their relatives 4 times a year. Prisoners have the opportunity to see loved ones in a special meeting room. Two out of four meetings cannot last more than 3 hours. Inmates are allowed two three-day visits a year.
All meetings are planned in advance and agreed with the management. The health status of visitors and convicts is taken into account. In some forms of detention, long-term visits are only possible with relatives, and this circumstance sometimes forces the prisoners to officially register their marriage. This can be done within the walls of the institution.
All things transferred by relatives are carefully examined before they fall into the hands of prisoners. The cells should not contain:
- sharp metal objects;
- hard plastic products;
- money;
- psychotropic substances and alcoholic beverages.
In a prison with strict conditions of detention, it is forbidden to transfer even plastic, metal icons to prisoners, since these can be sharpened.
