Kaitserajatised

Kaitserajatised are custodial facilities used to detain persons under guard in connection with criminal proceedings. They are part of the criminal justice system and are intended to hold suspects and accused persons who are awaiting a court decision, undergoing investigations, or serving short-term detention related to their case. They are distinct from long-term correctional facilities, such as prisons.

In Estonia, kaitserajatised are typically operated by agencies responsible for pre-trial detention and police work, while longer-term confinement after conviction is carried out in the prison system. Detention facilities are designed to provide secure housing, controlled access, and procedures for intake, transfers, searches, and visits. They function within a framework that emphasizes oversight, detainee rights, and safety for both detainees and staff.

Detainees in kaitserajatised have rights protected by national law and, where applicable, by international human rights standards. These rights commonly include access to legal counsel, prompt contact with legal representatives, medical care, the ability to challenge detention through judicial review, and safeguards against abuse. Detention periods are regulated by law and must be justified by the circumstances of the case, with courts typically able to review the necessity and duration of pre-trial detention.

The term kaitserajatised thus describes a category of secure facilities focused on short- to medium-term custodial custody within the criminal justice process, serving as a bridge between arrest and trial and, in some cases, transfer to longer-term imprisonment.

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