ABSTRACT
This chapter is about the most basic of the material conditions of confinement. The space and air available for one prisoner, temperature, sleeping arrangements and hygiene conditions not only concern decency, they are also relevant for physical health. In addition, they can also have an impact on psychological well-being and thus on the social climate of the institution (see Chapter 2). For example, joint accommodation overnight can provide opportunities for bullying and influence the feeling of safety in prison. In legal terms, aspects of the accommodation can be so wanting that they amount to inhuman or degrading treatment in the sense of Art. 3 ECHR (see Chapter 5, this volume; Peers v Greece, 19 April 2001, appl. no. 28524/95; Kalashnikov v Russia, 15 July 2002, appl. no. 47095/99).
