PRESS RELEASE – ELLINIKI KYLISI HERAKLION, January 2026Subject: Justice is Judged by Conditions, Not by SlogansFor "ELLINIKI KYLISI," a prison visit is not a media stunt; it is an act of Institutional Seriousness. We demand transparency regarding human rights and hygiene. Justice must be strict in sentencing but fair in detention conditions.Key Findings of the Technical Oversight:Health Shielding: The urgent need for strict health protocols during challenging times for public health.Staffing: Critical vacancies in correctional personnel undermine the safety of both employees and inmates.The Penal Code in Practice: Ensuring that sentencing serves rehabilitation, not the extinction of human dignity.Iakovos Pantelakis stated: "A civilized state is judged by how it treats those it deprives of liberty. We do not seek votes behind bars; we seek the Rule of Law. Public safety outside is inextricably linked to proper rehabilitation inside. Rehabilitation is impossible in understaffed prisons where workers live in insecurity. Decongestion must not be handled with horizontal 'sweep-up' regulations."Technical Scorecard (Based on Law 2776/1999 & EPR):

• Capacity & Occupancy: [1/10] – Extreme overcrowding, failure in inmate segregation.

• Safety & Staffing: [3/10] – Massive organic vacancies, degraded security systems.

• Healthcare: [4/10] – Lack of permanent psychiatric/medical presence.

• Staff Working Conditions: [3/10] – Professional burnout, lack of protective gear.

• Reintegration Programs: [4/10] – Underperforming vocational workshops.

• Institutional Score: [19/60]Institutional Proposals:

1. Digital Penitentiary: An electronic management system for inmate requests to eliminate favoritism.

2. Productive Agricultural Prisons: Following the Italian Model of social cooperatives, turning Cretan prisons (e.g., Ayia) into self-funded production centers connected to the local market.

3. Immediate Staffing: Prioritizing scientific personnel (sociologists, psychologists) over mere guarding.The "stability" claimed by the Mitsotakis government is, in fact, stagnation. Greece 2026 must adopt the best practices of its partners to move from the theater of impressions to institutional reconstruction.Iakovos Pantelakis Attorney at Law | President of "ELLINIKI KYLISI" Independent Candidate for the Prefecture of Heraklion