Prison chief says dismissed worker visited inmate after leaving job

The head of the Lithuanian Prison Service, Mindaugas Kairys, told LRT that a former Vilnius Prison employee visited an inmate the day after leaving her job, after a possible improper relationship had been identified.

“The day after she was dismissed, she came to visit an inmate. What can we say about the trade union’s arguments?” Kairys said.

According to Kairys, an employee of the prison’s Resocialisation Department reported the possible relationship. The Lithuanian Prison Service then launched investigations into the security situation at Vilnius Prison.

Kairys said the employee had voluntarily decided to leave and the prison service had not opposed her decision. After concerns about her conduct emerged, the prison governor transferred her to another Vilnius Prison address on Sniego Street.

She became ill immediately after the transfer and remained absent for an extended period. Her departure request cited illness as the reason. Kairys said the prison service was required under the Labour Code to pay her compensation, which it did.

He added that the employee had not returned to work after the security concerns were identified, making it impossible to investigate the matter while she was absent. She later visited an inmate after leaving the service, he said.

Service investigations are also under way into two other former employees who have already left the prison service, Kairys said. The wider security situation is being assessed.

Kairys said responsibility for the security situation lies with Darius Čekavičius, head of Vilnius Prison’s Security Management Department. Čekavičius is also chairman of the Vilnius Prison trade union and deputy chair of the Lithuanian Law Enforcement Officers Federation.

Čekavičius criticised the prison service leadership at a news conference, while Kairys said there was a conflict of interest because the official responsible for managing the relevant controls also felt under attack.

Other cases of improper relationships

In July, two prison officers left their jobs over close, romantic or intimate relationships with inmates. A food-service company employee also lost permission to enter a prison.

In early August, another case was reported at Vilnius Prison involving a Resocialisation Department employee who had maintained a non-service relationship with inmates for about six months.

Kairys said various offences and violations had also been identified in other prisons across Lithuania. He said the Lithuanian Prison Service would not conceal such cases and would use them to strengthen prevention and accountability.