For the past 20 years, patients (convicts) sentenced to mandatory psychiatric treatment or addiction therapy by court order have been sent to the Special Psychiatric Hospital in Kotor (Dobrota), even though this was intended only as a temporary solution back in 2005.
A specialised health facility within the Administration for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) in Spuz was promised for years, with construction finally beginning in March 2023. The project was supposed to be completed within two years, but only 67% of the building has been finished so far.
Currently, only two convicted individuals are housed in the Kotor facility. There have been security incidents, including one case where a convict sentenced for double murder was allegedly mistakenly allowed to leave the hospital unsupervised.
The new facility in Spuz will be a closed-type institution for convicts needing psychiatric care or addiction treatment, with 36 medical staff and 11 security personnel. It will also serve inmates with acute mental or physical health issues. The building will include 4,500 m² of space, hospital rooms with private bathrooms, visitor areas, and a small sports area.
Kotor’s existing forensic psychiatric department has 21 beds and has been functioning as a temporary solution since its creation. It treats court-ordered patients despite also serving minors, prompting a recent recommendation to establish a separate facility for children in need of psychiatric care.
