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Welcome to the EuroPris Knowledge Management System. The table below shows questions and responses from European National Agencies. Select a question for more information or use the filters on the left to narrow down questions based on Agency or Category.
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Introduction: Family days – A chance for inmates to meet their children and spouses and together with them to take part in events both inside the place of imprisonment and outside it. The aim of the Family days is to preserve family bonds.
Yes. Family Days and child centred extended visits provide a vital opportunity for prisoners, their children and partners to come together, to enjoy and share family time in a more normalised environment. They are characterised by more relaxed interaction and fewer restrictions than at regular visits. The focus should be supporting a better quality of experience and interaction for prisoners and their children. As the organisation, availability, style of family days, and prisoner eligibility vary across prisons we are unable to answer further questions. A significant majority of establishments hold family days, or dedicated events where children and families attend. There are minimum standards for how Prisons support family visitors including: visiting times which maximise opportunities for prisoners and families to meet; ensuring opportunities for reasonable physical contact; facilities for children to play whilst visiting; decent, indoor facilities with toilets and baby changing facilities. Family days and child centred visits; homework clubs are included as part of additional activities NOMS also encourages such as: enhanced children’s play facilities; and family support worker services. http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi-2011/psi-2011-16-providing-visits-and-services-to-visitors.doc To support rehabilitation services in custody, NOMS mandates prisons to ensure that a service is available to provide prisoners with the means to manage immediate family and welfare support needs resulting from their imprisonment and those which may arise during their period in prison. Family days and child centred visits, homework clubs, use of Release on Temporary Licence to support / renew family ties may be commissioned as additional services. These would aim to maintain, strengthen relationships and engage the involvement and support of families. https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi-2015/psi-04-2015-pi-01-2015-rehabilitation-services-custody.pdf.pdf
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?See above.
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family? In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?Every un-convicted prisoner is given the opportunity to receive at least three, one hour social visits each week, one of which may be on a weekend. Every prisoner is given the opportunity of receiving a visit within 72 hours of reception upon conviction, where the visit is additional to the statutory entitlement. Convicted prisoners have the opportunity to receive at least two, one-hour social visits in every four week period. Full details http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi-2011/psi-2011-16-providing-visits-and-services-to-visitors.doc
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?See above.
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsRules relating to Release on Temporary Licence are contained in PSi 13/2015 www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi-2015/psi-13-2015-release-on-temporary-licence.docx
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Various events across SPS establishments are held to promote family contact such as prisoner rock concerts, theatre productions, art exhibitions and creative activities which can bring family and friends into the prison environment to mix. Security is observed but there are no physical barriers to contact. Organisations such as Families Outside, Theatre Nemo and other community agencies actively promote contact. Special events also take place around Christmas and other festive times.
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?Schemes such as Storybook Mums and Storybook Dads help those in custody keep in contact with their children. The scheme involves the parent reading a story recorded onto compact disc to be played by the child at home. The scheme is security vetted. Also in establishment such as Low Moss, fathers assist children with their homework at after school visits.
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family?Most establishments have a Family Contact Officer responsible for maintain family contact. Personal officers, social workers, and chaplains also have a role in keeping families together.
In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?Prisoners can meet with their families in accordance with the visiting arrangements prevailing at each establishment. Standards for visiting arrangements are set in the SPS Prison Rules.
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?Within a number of establishment visiting rooms, children's play areas are available.
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsTowards the end of a sentence and after security and risk assessments, prisoners in the Open Estate have access to home leave to promote family bonding and community reintegration.
Such events are not organized nationally but by each prison. Swedish prisons are classified as 1, 2 and 3. Class 1 prisons have the highest security, followed by class 2 and 3. Some of the prisons in class 3 that allow visits in the ward and not only in a specific visiting room have arranged family days. These events have been arranged at weekends and family and relatives that are authorized as visitors have had the opportunity to participate. At the family days the prison has arranged some special events, for example a magician, a bouncy castle, karaoke, a quiz walk and/or barbeque. Physical contact is allowed during these events. Family days have taken place one to two times a year. The NGO Bufff (Children and Youth with Parent/Family member in Prison) have been involved in some of these events.
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?The Swedish Prison and Probation Service (PPS) do not arrange any special events on Father’s Day. However, the PPS have other activities which aim to emphasize the role of parents. There is an education, Parental Group, which aims to support parents in their parenting role to promote children's positive development. The education gives increased knowledge about children's development and what separation from the parent can do to a child. It also gives knowledge about protective and beneficiary factors that work against risk factors for child development, children's needs, and how children can think and feel when a parent is committed for a crime, the importance of the parent and how important it is that parents/adults can collaborate. The study material has been developed by the NGO Bufff (Children and Youth with Parent/Family member in Prison). The PPS, in cooperation with libraries in different counties, also arranges study circles called “Bedtime stories from inside”. Within the study circle the inmate make a recording on CD of him or her reading the child’s favorite story. Finally, the PPS have a special prison in class 3, Gruvberget, where inmates for the time of a week or two can live in more open conditions and participate in different kinds of courses. In some courses the inmate’s family also can participate. In those cases the inmate and his or her family will stay in a house by themselves.
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family?The PPS do not have any resources for offering family members help in that way. There are other social functions that are responsible for offering such help.
In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?Visits from family members, and especially the inmate’s children, are prioritized in terms of allocation of time for visits according to the PPS regulations. How often and for how long time inmates are allowed to meet with their family differs between prisons. Each prison decides how many visits they can grant in total in a week and for how long time a visit may last. This is affected by, among other things, whether the visits will take place in special visiting rooms and how many visiting rooms there are or if the visits can take place in the ward, which only is allowed in some class 3 prisons.
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?All prisons have special rooms for visits from children. These rooms have, for example, cheerful colors on the walls, curtains and carpets, child-friendly paintings and furniture that are suitable for children. Further, the room should be equipped with toys, books and other items that suit children of all ages. A few prisons, in class 1 and 2, also have special visiting rooms in the form of small apartments furnished like a home. The purpose is to allow the inmate and his or her family to be able to interact in a family way. Such visits may be allowed for a longer time than a few hours.
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsOne of the purposes when an inmate is granted furloughs on a regular basis is that he or she should spend time with his or her family. The inmate should plan the furlough in a way that he or she can participate in events like for example birthdays and graduations. There is no special kind of furloughs for the sake of participating in resocialisation events like Fathers Day.
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Parent-child days In prisons for women is a monthly opportunity for "parent-child visit" in specially designed child-friendly visiting rooms. In the facilities for male prisoners, this opportunity is offered at least four times a year. In child-friendly visiting rooms, parents can for example play with their children (there are toys, puzzles, coloring pages, board games etc) have a drink, have a chat and do some reading. Personal contact is possible and will not be restricted. If necessary, representatives of volunteer organizations accompany the children on these visits.
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?Behavioural Intervention Better Start (mothers) For mothers in detention we offer the behavioural intervention 'Better Start’, which is licensed as an effective intervention. The training is derived from the proven effective intervention "Incredible Years' and specially developed for mothers in detention. ‘Better Start’ aims to strengthen the parenting skills of mothers, enhance their relationship with the child in order to reduce any behavioural problems the children might show and reduces the recidivism among the mothers. The training consists of group meetings during the last months of imprisonment. In the final stage of imprisonment, mothers practice learned parenting skills in the home environment. After release, the mothers will be visited by professionals at their home. This is part of the follow-up phase of the intervention ‘Better Start’. Further applications of the intervention are being examined, for instance certain adaptions in order to offer it to fathers. Training Family in Balance (mothers) In women prisons, volunteers organize courses in the context of "family in balance". In these courses, mothers are prepared for their parental obligations after detention. The volunteer’s organization receives funding for it. Workshop ‘free responsible fatherhood’ (fathers) In some prisons, a workshop ‘free responsible fatherhood’ takes places. The workshop consists of eight 2.5 hours sessions in the prison environment. It focuses on rehabilitation and rebuilding the relationship between the imprisoned father and his children. The workshops are organized by subsidized volunteers. Read (fathers) In some prisons, fathers have the opportunity to read to their children through video recordings. The recorded DVDs will be sent to the children at home. Digital contact In all prisons, it is possible for to contact their children at home through to have a secure video connection id needed. Furthermore, children can send their imprisoned parents emails through a digital post service. These messages will be delivered daily to the parents.
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family?Please refer to the answer to question 1. Some volunteer organisations accompany children on visiting their parents. It’s also possible employees of a professional organisation like Youth Care present. If detainees have problems with preseverving family bonds, they can request to talk to a spiritual counsellor, the mentor or a case manager.
In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?Visits During the preventive detention the family, including children, can visit the prisoner each week for 1 hour. In addition, mothers can receive their children for 1.5 hours during the weekend in a specially arranged parent-child visit once a month. In the latter prison phase, family members and children can pay a weakly two hour visit. For mothers, the parent-child visit in the weekend remains a possibility. Male prisoners are offered a parent-child visit at least four times a year. Baby stay If care outside prison cannot be arranged for babies, a baby up to 9 months can stay with its mother in prison. To this end, specially equipped and larger cells are present in the women prisons. Mother-child house A medium security prison for women is contains building with 5 custom cells, in which mothers with children can stay up to four years. These cells are more specious and equipped with toys and facilities for children staying. This happens only if it is in the best interests of the child and there are no alternative care opportunities.
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?Please refer to the answers to questions 1 and 4
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsRehabilitation leave Participants of the behavioural training ‘Better Start’ are granted temporary leave to attend the training sessions. Participants travel there on their own. Moreover, every two weeks in the period towards the end of their imprisonment, they get weekend leave in order to practice their learned parenting skills at home.
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A celebration of the European Children’s Week for children whose parents are in prison (in June) is organized in prisons and penitentiaries. There are number of activities for that occasion such as making special billboards and posters (with family as a theme), presentation of prisoners and their children works, creative workshops in which both parents and children participate, theater and puppet shows, movie projections in prisons/penitentiaries for prisoners-parents and their children, celebration of holidays during the year such as Christmas, Easter or International Family Day which is organized in the facilities for child visits where is allowed physical contact between visitors and inmates.
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?During the events the participation in different activities of children and their incarcerated parents is encouraged (decoration of Easter eggs, participation in games, and gifts from St. Nicholas or Santa Clause who is usually costumed prisoner, taking pictures etc.). All activities emphasize the importance of strengthening and preserving family ties. The program "prisoner as parent" involves prisoners with the aim of promoting parental responsibility.
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family?During those events prisoners family members were given the opportunity to meet and talk with the treatment staff in order to preserve the family, individually and in groups.
In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?Prisoners are allowed to meet their families and the children as part of regular visits, in accordance with the established benefits of each prisoner and the House Rules in prisons/ penitentiaries. Minor child has right to visit parents once a week and on holidays for at least one hour.
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?Prisoners meet their families or other visitors in the special rooms equipped with appropriate furniture. Children have also access to educational materials for children of preschool and school age. Children can express their artistic creativity through drawing and picture books, books and toys. The walls in this room are painted with drawings of cartoon characters and on the floor is suitable carpet for play. Some prisons / penitentiaries have playgrounds outside.
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsDue to the level of success in implementing an individual program of enforcement of sentence, inmate can use benefits and going out with a family member. Type of events in which an inmate can participate with his family depends solely on the inmate or the mode of implementation of free time during his exit.
Most of family meeting events are organized by social educators. Social workers don’t organize leisure family meetings, except for Epiphany celebration. These are the meetings involving inmate’s families on annual basis - Lunches gathering together family, inmates and professionals o Christmas lunch: at Specialized Departments, Adults School and Participation/Engaging Units > Once a year o High level inmate’s lunch (high level according to “Motivating and Assessing System” score) > twice a year - Graduating ceremony for inmates graduating in E.S.O. (compulsory education, usually for children aged between 12 and 16) and High School > once a year - Gift-giving on Epiphany’s celebration > once a year - Family meeting on Women’s Day > once a year Physical contact is allowed at every above-mentioned meeting or event (no separation at all) beside special surveillance lead by “Inner Sub-directorate” (custody and security unit) . Only on Epiphany’s celebration Red Cross NGO is involved.
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?Social educators teach Father Programmes to inmates, which include: parental skills, reflecting on becoming a father, how whether parent’s divorce or imprisonment can affect children, children’s autonomy, parental responsibility, emotional education, tantrums, limits, values, education, health, prevention, conflict resolution, basic educational principles, game, links, reflecting on whether explaining or not the fact of being in prison to their children and finding answers to their questions and so on The aim is that parents develop those abilities during vis à vis with their families. Father’s role development is central only on Epiphany’s day
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family?Only relatives of inmates having prison permits in a short time have the chance to meet specialists. During the events meetings happens in a casual way. There are two other situations for formal meetings: - Individually. To explain and clarify the specific Work Plan for the inmate - In family groups
In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?Any inmate has this right, except: - Sanctioned ones - The ones having regular prison permits The normal frequency is once a month during three hours or twice during one hour and a half.. In special cases of good behaviour there might be a prize consisting in extra time for conviviality with family.
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?The rooms look like a living room with a sofa, two armchairs, a table and some toilette. Daylight comes into them. There’s a nursery, run by Red Cross, to be uses in case the families decide not to take the children inside the meeting room.
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsIn different degrees of inmate evolution we find different possibilities: - If public administration is taking care of the children and considers convenient a meeting, inmate will leave the prison with the police - With positive evolution, if the inmate is allowed to attend family celebrations like birthdays, baptisms, school festivals, events organised by “Niños sin fronteras” (Children without borders, an NGO that deals with inmate’s children) and so on, a member of staff will go with him or her - When inmates have regular prison permits (six days every two months, in Catalonia) they can use them to attend weddings, Christmas celebration, meetings with their children’s teachers at the school, etc.
In collaboration with “Prison Fellowship” once a year, before Christmas there is organized an action called “Angel Tree” to support children of inmates. One of the activities of this action is workshop for making greeting cards in the prisons. Inmates, who want to greet their children, are taking part in this workshop.
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?No, we don’t.
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family?No.
In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?According to the Section 50.1 of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia (hereinafter – Code), “Progressive execution of sentence is based on differentiation of convicted persons within the framework of each type of deprivation of liberty institution and regime of a deprivation of liberty institution, as well as the transfer of convicted persons from a prison of one type to a prison of another type, taking into account the portion of the sentence served and the behaviour of the convicted person. Its objective is to achieve conformity of the sentence execution regime with the behaviour and re-socialisation level of the convicted person in ensuring execution of the sentence, and his or her optimal involvement in life after release. All convicted persons shall be subject to the progressive sentence execution system, except the persons sentenced with temporary deprivation of liberty.” Section 50.3 of the Code states that determination of the Sentence Execution Regime” Convicted persons in closed prisons shall serve their sentence at three regime levels – the lowest, medium and the highest level, but in partly-closed prisons – at two regime levels – the lowest and the highest. Levels of the service execution regime shall not be determined for convicted persons in open prisons and for minors in juvenile correctional institutions. Section 45. of the Code “Visitation of Persons Sentenced with Deprivation of Liberty by Relatives and Other Persons” states that the persons sentenced with deprivation of liberty, except persons sentenced with temporary deprivation of liberty, shall have an opportunity to meet their relatives and other persons without the presence of a representative of the deprivation of liberty institution in accordance with the procedures and extent laid down in this Code: short visits – from one to two hours in order to facilitate the maintaining and renewal of socially useful contacts; long visits – from six to forty-eight hours in order to facilitate the maintaining of kinship and family contacts. Section 50.4 of the Code “Sentence Execution Regime in Closed Prisons” states that convicted persons serving their sentence at the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a closed prison have the right to have six long-duration visits of twelve to twenty-four hours and six short-duration visits of one to two hours per year. Convicted persons serving their sentence in a closed prison at the medium level of the sentence serving regime have the right to have four long-duration visits of eight to sixteen hours and six short-duration visits of one to two hours per year. Convicted persons serving sentence at the lowest level of the sentence serving regime in a closed prison have the right to have three long-duration visits of six to twelve hours and four short-duration visits of one to two hours per year. Section 50.5 of the Code “Sentence Execution Regime in Partly-closed Prisons” states that convicted persons serving their sentence at the highest level of the sentence serving regime in a partly-closed prison have the right to have eight long visits – from twenty-four to forty-eight hours in length and eight short-duration visits – from one and a half to two hours long a year. Convicted persons serving their sentence at the lowest level of the sentence serving regime in a partly-closed prison have the right to have five long visits – from twelve to twenty-four hours long and four short duration visits – from one and a half to two hours long a year. Section 50.7 of the Code “Sentence Execution Regime in Juvenile Correctional Institutions” states that convicted minors are permitted to utilise fifteen long-duration visits from 36 to 48 hours with close relatives per year and to utilise twelve short-duration visits from one and half hours to two hours per year. According to to Sections 61 and 62 of chapter 11 of the Regulations No.423 of Cabinet of Ministers of May 30, 2006 “Internal Rules of Penitentiary Institution”: 61. The duration of the visit is determined by the administration of penitentiary institution in accordance with the duration of the visit, which is provided in Code according to level of the sentence serving regime. Participants of the visit can shorten its duration. 62. Untill the 10th day of each month the administration of the penitentiary institution prepares the schedule of long visits for the next month. The schedule is put, where every inmate can get acquainted with it.
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?In every penitentiary institution there are established rooms for the long-duration visits, which are equipped with everything for the rest, food preparation and personal hygiene observance. The use of the room of visits is free of charge. Inmates and/or guests must pay for use of the gas and electricity, and for other public services.
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsNo.
In prisons for women is a monthly opportunity for "parent-child visit" in specially designed child-friendly visiting rooms. In the facilities for male prisoners, this opportunity is offered at least four times a year. In child-friendly visiting rooms, parents can for example play with their children (there are toys, puzzles, coloring pages, board games etc) have a drink, have a chat and do some reading. Personal contact is possible and will not be restricted. If necessary, representatives of volunteer organizations accompany the children on these visits.
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?Behavioural Intervention Better Start (mothers) For mothers in detention we offer the behavioural intervention 'Better Start’, which is licensed as an effective intervention. The training is derived from the proven effective intervention "Incredible Years' and specially developed for mothers in detention. ‘Better Start’ aims to strengthen the parenting skills of mothers, enhance their relationship with the child in order to reduce any behavioural problems the children might show and reduces the recidivism among the mothers. The training consists of group meetings during the last months of imprisonment. In the final stage of imprisonment, mothers practice learned parenting skills in the home environment. After release, the mothers will be visited by professionals at their home. This is part of the follow-up phase of the intervention ‘Better Start’. Further applications of the intervention are being examined, for instance certain adaptions in order to offer it to fathers. Training Family in Balance (mothers) In women prisons, volunteers organize courses in the context of "family in balance". In these courses, mothers are prepared for their parental obligations after detention. The volunteer’s organization receives funding for it. Workshop ‘free responsible fatherhood’ (fathers) In some prisons, a workshop ‘free responsible fatherhood’ takes places. The workshop consists of eight 2.5 hours sessions in the prison environment. It focuses on rehabilitation and rebuilding the relationship between the imprisoned father and his children. The workshops are organized by subsidized volunteers. Read (fathers) In some prisons, fathers have the opportunity to read to their children through video recordings. The recorded DVDs will be sent to the children at home. Digital contact In all prisons, it is possible for to contact their children at home through to have a secure video connection id needed. Furthermore, children can send their imprisoned parents emails through a digital post service. These messages will be delivered daily to the parents.
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family?Please refer to the answer to question 1. Some volunteer organisations accompany children on visiting their parents. It’s also possible employees of a professional organisation like Youth Care present. If detainees have problems with preseverving family bonds, they can request to talk to a spiritual counsellor, the mentor or a case manager.
In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?Visits During the preventive detention the family, including children, can visit the prisoner each week for 1 hour. In addition, mothers can receive their children for 1.5 hours during the weekend in a specially arranged parent-child visit once a month. In the latter prison phase, family members and children can pay a weakly two hour visit. For mothers, the parent-child visit in the weekend remains a possibility. Male prisoners are offered a parent-child visit at least four times a year. Baby stay If care outside prison cannot be arranged for babies, a baby up to 9 months can stay with its mother in prison. To this end, specially equipped and larger cells are present in the women prisons. Mother-child house A medium security prison for women is contains building with 5 custom cells, in which mothers with children can stay up to four years. These cells are more specious and equipped with toys and facilities for children staying. This happens only if it is in the best interests of the child and there are no alternative care opportunities.
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?Please refer to the answers to questions 1 and 4.
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsRehabilitation leave Participants of the behavioural training ‘Better Start’ are granted temporary leave to attend the training sessions. Participants travel there on their own. Moreover, every two weeks in the period towards the end of their imprisonment, they get weekend leave in order to practice their learned parenting skills at home.
Every prison in Denmark, now has a "children officer". They are trained to be specially aware of the importance of contact between the prisoner and the children. One of the important jobs they carry, is to make special arrangements for the children, such as parties at Christmas, Easter, ect. The children officers will arrange thise parties, they will decor the visiting rooms and provide food, toys and small gifts. In many prisons there will be around 4-5 arragenments a year. Some prisons had "baking days" for fathers and their children. The "Children officers have the freedom to implement whatever projekts they see fits their institution and the prison and Probation service will provide support and advice.There are no separation in psysical contact during thise events. We do have NGO involved, such as "Kirkens Korshær". They have made 10 visits in prisons this year, visiting with a projekt called "The Red Dragon" Witch is a way to help prisoners to have a playfull day with their families.
Do you organise events that emphasize the role of parents?In 2015 the Danish Prison and Probation service started up grups for fathers. The grups are running 3 times a year and is a offer to share the role as a parent, the contact they can have to the children, the childrens conditions. The father grups are run by familytherapist.
Are the inmate family members given a chance to meet with a specialist, the aim of the meeting being to preserve the family?No
In what cases, how often and for how long are inmates allowed to meet with their families, including the times for meeting children?As a generel rule, prisoners can receive visits from their families. In remand prisons there are certain restrictions, if the inmate has been isolated of the Court or if the police due to Court order has to be present during visit. In generel, inmates are entitled to one 60 minute visit a week. This is the minimum granted, it is usually possible to request longer visits. As a prison and probation service, we have rules in place which pay special attention to children and ensure that they car visit their parents. In most open prisons children can visit their parents inside the prison, in weekends, for a hole day. The goverment has from 2015 granted 1 million Danish kroner yearly to cover the travel expenses for children visiting imprisoned parents.
Are there special rooms used during the meetings?Four Danish prisons have visiting apartsments where the Family can visit for a weekend (with a permission of the social authorities)The prisoners who are intitled to these visits usually are those who have longer sentences and who are not granted leave. Every kind of prison, have special rooms, friendly for families and children. In many open prisons the children can visit the room of their parent, and stay for a longer periode.
Is it possible for an inmate to leave a prison premises for the purpose of participating in a resocialisation event, with the aim of strengthening family bondsIn Denmark, prisoners can (after some time) during their imprisonment apply for leave, every thied weekend. If there is a more serious problem, with the child, the prisoner may apply for leave every fortnight. It is possible to apply for recocialisation events such as first school day, special birthdays, konfirmation, ect.