If the prison staff, the Lithuanian Prison Service or other authorities have violated your human rights, you may ask for the harm done to you to be remedied.
To obtain a remedy for a violation of your rights, you first need to:
- establish that there was a violation of your rights
- claim compensation
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If you believe that prison staff or the Lithuanian Prison Service have violated your rights and wish to receive compensation, you should write an application to that institution. You can submit your claim for compensation together with the general complaint about the violation of your human rights (read more about the general complaints procedure). You can also submit the claim after the institution or a court has established that your rights have been violated.
The procedure and time limits for the appeal must be indicated in the decision.
Involvement of other institutions
In some situations, other institutions like the State Food and Veterinary Service, can establish that your rights have been violated. In that case you can ask for compensation from the prison. In your application you must explain which institution has established that your rights were violated.
Appeal
The decision of the prison or the Lithuanian Prison Services can be appealed in the Administrative Court. The procedure and time limits for the appeal must be indicated in the decision.
Compensation within a criminal proceedings
If you are recognized as a victim in criminal proceedings, you can ask for compensation during the criminal proceedings. Read more about compensation for victims of crime.
Remember that there are several types of remedies that you may receive. Depending on the gravity of the violation, it can be remedied by:
- a public or written apology
- reversal of the harm done to you
- a certain amount of money
In some situations the Law on Damage Caused by Unlawful Actions of Public Authorities and Representation of the State and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania limits the amount of money that you can seek for a violation of your rights. This includes compensation for the material losses (loss of money or your property), as well as compensation for any psychological suffering. If you want to receive a certain amount of money, you must explain why you are asking for that specific amount of money.