Black Dolphin Prison

Federal Governmental Institution — penal colony № 6 Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Orenburg region (Russian: ФКУ ИК-6 УФСИН России по Оренбургской области or Федеральное Казённое Учреждение — Исправительная Колония №6 Управления Федеральной Службы Исполнения Наказаний России по Оренбургской области), commonly known as the Black Dolphin Prison (Russian: Чёрный дельфин, Chyorny delʹfin), is a correctional facility in Sol-Iletsk, Orenburg Oblast, Russia.^[1] It is operated by the Federal Penitentiary Service. It is referred to as one of Russia's toughest prisons.^{[citation needed]}

This is one of the oldest prisons in Russia and one of the first prisons for life sentences in the Orenburg region. Originally it was a jail (Ostrog) for a lifetime of hard labor. The first mention of this relates to 1745. After the suppression of the Pugachev's Rebellion in 1773, the prison was built for the deportation of robbers. The prison got its unofficial name from a fountain with a sculpture depicting a black dolphin, which is set before the main entrance. The sculpture was made by the prisoners themselves.^{[citation needed]}

It is near the Kazakhstan border. The prison houses approximately 700 of the most serious criminals in Russia. It holds paedophiles, murderers, terrorists, cannibals, and so called "maniacs".^[2] Prisoners at Black Dolphin are imprisoned for life.^[1] Prison guards place blindfolds on arriving prisoners so that they can not map out the prison or plan escapes. Prisoners are also blindfolded whenever they are transported between buildings. Also unique to Black Dolphin is the form in which guards escort inmates; prisoners are kept bent over at the waist while a guard holds their handcuffed hands behind their back, higher than the inmate's hips. This "stress position" allows for maximum control over the inmate, while depriving the inmate a view of their surroundings. While there have been rumors of inmate abuse and misconduct at Black Dolphin Prison, there are no confirmed reports or complaints.^[3]

Inmates are kept isolated and housed in a cell within a cell. For 90 minutes a day they are transported to a larger cell for exercise time. During this time, the cell is searched for contraband or illegal items that inmates are not permitted to have. Prisoners at Black Dolphin are kept under 24 hour supervision; they are not permitted to rest or sit on their bunks from the time they are awoken until it is time to sleep again. Every 15 minutes a guard makes rounds to check on each cell to ensure inmates are complying with the rules. The prisoners are fed chicken four times a day.^[2]

There are 700 inmates and 900 officers of the Federal Penitentiary Service.

References

External links

• Black Dolphin Prison - Federal Penitentiary Service Orenburg Region (Russian) (Archive)
• "Black Dolphin Prison: Inside: Russia's Toughest Prisons."
• Google Maps Link to Black Dolphin Prison

Coordinates: 51°09′20″N 54°59′35″E / 51.15556°N 54.99306°E / 51.15556; 54.99306