Tartu prison director: inmate asked when she would die

Merle Ulsta (47), director of the prison in Tartu, Estonia, described her daily work and an incident that left her uneasy in an interview with Delfi. She says she values humanity and openness in her job.

An inmate she had spoken with several times, trying to explain why a prison has rules and why exceptions cannot be made merely for a person's wishes or convenience, sent her a written request. It asked when she would die. The inmate believed she was the reason he was faring so badly in prison.

Ulsta admits she was not prepared for such a question. At first she was confused and wondered whether he had simply vented his emotions or whether the words also hid a threat. She says she would like to believe it was only an expression of dissatisfaction.

Attitude toward inmates

The director says she is confident she does not fear inmates. She mentions that the day before, she greeted inmates working at the prison in the yard and never felt she needed to be afraid of them. She notes that prison staff are trained to act in specific situations, for example never standing with their backs to inmates.

The job demands attentiveness and readiness for unexpected situations, but Ulsta describes everyday life in the prison as calm and routine.

Uniform and downtime

At work she sometimes wears a uniform and sometimes civilian clothes, depending on the meetings planned. In uniform, it is not customary to overdo perfume or wear conspicuous make-up, though a little lip gloss or mascara is fine.

When thoughts about work will not leave her alone, the director goes to a sauna, heats up thoroughly and then jumps into ice-cold water. She says this helps her release tension best.