Andorra Confirms Strong Mental Health Care at La Comella Prison, Advances €260,000 Land Buy for Expansion

**Andorra's Justice Department confirms positive mental health review at La Comella prison, advances €260,000 land purchase for annex**

Justice Minister Ester Molné and Penitentiary Institutions Director Miquel Àngel García presented findings from a French expert review to the General Council's Justice and Interior commission. Commissioned after a late-2024 parliamentary motion, the report deemed mental health care for inmates appropriate, with functional facilities, diverse reintegration options and a committed multidisciplinary staff. It suggested formalizing existing practices and expanding space for additional programs.

Officials have signed a promise of sale for a 1,600 to 1,675 square metre plot adjacent to the prison and former Arch Led factory site, priced at €260,000. They plan to secure an extraordinary credit for the purchase before summer, followed by a 2027 budget allocation for a feasibility study to outline the annex's design and timeline. Molné acknowledged the project will extend beyond the current legislature but expressed confidence in its continuity.

The prison currently houses 55 inmates—43 on full stay, down from a peak of 88—remaining below its 80-person capacity and within international standards. Expansion aims to support more workshops, already expanded proactively, along with extended yard, library and gym access, plus psychosocial programs, addiction relapse prevention, violence offender treatment, healthy habits sessions and dog-assisted therapy. Cells feature natural light, isolation units have decreased from five to two, and a multidisciplinary team tailors interventions.

The annex would include a dedicated mental health unit, currently sharing space with the minors' area, to avoid organizational issues—especially if a high-needs adult or minor requires separation. Other potential features encompass educational spaces, a communal dining area for lower-risk inmates to promote socialization, improved minor isolation, parking and an elevator linking buildings. Officials considered leasing the Arch Led warehouse but rejected it due to high rehabilitation costs for a rental property.

Pre-report improvements, now part of a shock plan under parliamentary review as a law amendment, cover staff salary hikes, €150 permanent function supplements, internal promotions, an €85,000 specialties fund and a multi-year training program. Staffing stands at 66 agents, exceeding Council of Europe ratios. Five new positions will open soon: two new creations and three from retirements.

Responding to Andorran Penitentiary Union concerns, Molné highlighted a pending bill to accelerate disciplinary processes, already halving some timelines for prompt, effective sanctions. On medication, she stressed prescriptions follow medical criteria beyond government oversight, addressing incarceration-induced anxiety—a significant life crisis. Initial Ombudsman worries about overmedication prompted changes, later confirmed appropriate by follow-up checks. Efforts continue to minimize suicides through prevention and safe reporting channels.

The report also recommends grouping similar-profile inmates, including those with mental health issues—currently six across regimes—with legal adjustments to enable supervised mixing, excluding minors from adults.