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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: Sweden would like to know how telephone systems in other countries work. In Sweden we have a telephone exchange dedicated for telephone calls for inmates. The exchange can handle that the inmate are just allowed to call approved numbers and if they try to transfer the call or put in another receiver the system cuts the call. Inmates in Sweden are allowed to make how many call as they want and they pay for them by a card. The rate is 0.35 SEK per minute and to cellphones 2.3 SEK (10 SEK is approx 1 Euro). Phone calls to other countries follows different taxes. The phone calls are paying for the contract with the actual phone company but also for the exchange service.
We don't have a similar system in Catalonia. Inmates carry their calls from telephone booths located in common areas.
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?Inmates pay for their calls.
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?According to the telephone company rates
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?According to the prison rules inmates have the right to make five calls per week for five minutes each. Authorizing a list of up to 10 telephone numbers and on the day of the call a guard should check that the call actually corresponds to one of the authorized numbers. The phone booths are ready to stop the comunication once exhausted five minutes. They can make as many calls as they consider appropriate to their lawyers and more calls can be authorized in exceptional circumstances (illness of relatives, etc ..). However prisons can offer the possibility of expanding the number of calls as a reward for reasons of "positive developments" reflected in the SAM (System of Evaluation and Motivation "
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?Telephone calls can not be recorded. We can intervene only with judicial authorization
In Estonia the telephone service provider chosen by the Estonian prison system offers telephone service for the inmates. The inmates can call outside the prison, to mobiles or desktop phones and they can also call abroad.
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?In Estonia the inmates have to cover their own costs according to the price-list established by the telephone service provider. The inmates have been given a phone card onto which they themselves or their friend or relative can charge money.
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?The service provider has established a price-list and the prices are the same as they are for people outside of the prison.
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?There are different regulations for prisoners and detainees. Those who are already serving their sentence can use the phone, placed in their sector, 9 to 16 hours a day according to the day plan. Those who are in custody and waiting for their court decision can use the phone for atleast 10 minutes a week and they make their calls in their cell with a phone given by the prison officer. The inmates only use the phones that are given by the prison, they do not have their personal phones.
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?The prison system can’t bug or record the phone calls without the authorization by the court. The telephone provider keeps track of the log with the information to whom the inmate has callen. It is necessary because that way it is possible to check if the inmate called someone who he is allowed to call or not.
Yes, in that inmates are just allowed to call approved numbers.
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?The Irish Prison Service stands the cost.
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?Nil
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?No. All calls are 6 minutes in duration. The number of calls is dependent on the regime level the prisoner is on. Prisoner on Basic regime make one personal call per day, 3 days a week for sentenced prisoner, and 5 days a week for a remand prisoner. Prisoner on Standard regime can make one personal call per day. Prisoner on Enhanced regime can make 2 personal calls per day. All prisoners are also allowed one call to their solicitor per day. Prisoners can make unlimited calls to the Samaritans.
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?All prisoner calls are recorded, except calls with the prisoners solicitor/lawyer/legal representative and the Samaritans.
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Yes, we do use a largely similar system for managing prisoner phone calls.
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?The costs of initiating phone calls are to be borne by the inmates themselves. The system itself was established and the cell phones procured by the Hungarian Prison Service from its own budget.
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?The price that applies to domestic calls (landline carriers) is 81 HUF (~ 0,26 EUR) per minute, and (mobile carriers) 93 HUF (~0,3 EUR) per minute. The price of international calls depends on the pricing zone of the country in question but they are generally more expensive than domestic calls.
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?The amount of phone calls is regulated as required by the national legislation. In practice, milder regimes mean more phone time, which ranges from 3x10 minutes to 105 minutes a week.
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?Prisoner phone calls can be monitored with the exceptions being the conversations with the legal representative.
Communication by telephone Rule 62.—(1) A prisoner is entitled to the use of a telephone, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) A prisoner’s use of a telephone is subject to the provisions of any direction which the Scottish Ministers may make in relation to— (a) the groups or categories of prisoners who may have the use of a telephone; (b) the times of day and circumstances in which a telephone may be available for use; (c) the conditions applicable to the use of such a telephone; (d) the logging, monitoring and recording by any means by any person authorised by the Governor of telephone calls made by a prisoner. (3) An officer may refuse to allow a prisoner to have the use of a telephone or restrict a prisoner’s use of a telephone— (a) by virtue of the provisions of any direction as mentioned in paragraph (2); or (b) in accordance with rule 60. (4) Where an officer refuses or restricts a prisoner’s use of a telephone in terms of paragraph (3), the officer must inform the prisoner of the reasons for that decision and, where a request is made by the prisoner, such reasons must be given in writing. The use of a prisoner telephone is subject to conditions; a prisoner may only make a call to a person, authority or organization included in the prisoner's list of numbers; the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman; the Samaritans; or any other person or body specified by the Governor. Prisoners may not receive telephone calls on a prisoner telephone. Prisoners are prohibited from using a prisoner telephone to call a number which is not the same telephone number as the intended call recipient (e.g. a telephone number which provides a routing service to a different telephone number). As soon as is practicable after reception into the prison, a prisoner must submit to the Governor a list of no more than 20 persons, authorities or organizations which the prisoner wishes to be included in the prisoner's list of numbers.
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?A prisoner may purchase telephone credits to enable the prisoner to use a prisoner telephone. The cost of telephone credits is determined by the Scottish Ministers. The Governor may in exceptional circumstances permit the prisoner to purchase additional telephone credits beyond the maximum amount specified by the Governor under rule 51(4).
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?As above.
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?Where a prisoner telephone is provided it must be made available each day during permitted call periods . During the permitted calling periods a prisoner is permitted to use the prisoner telephone only for so long as is appropriate having regard to the requirements of other prisoners to use the prisoner telephone and the constraints of the general prison regime. Where the Governor is satisfied that the prisoner urgently requires to use a telephone to contact a legal advisor or on compassionate grounds, the Governor at the request of the prisoner may authorise the use of a prisoner telephone outwith the permitted calling periods.
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?Telephone calls from prisoner telephones are logged automatically(i.e. details of the telephone number dialed, the date, time and duration of the call, the total cost of the call, the prisoner number of the prisoner making the call and whether or not the call has been recorded). With the exception of exempted calls, calls are recorded and may be monitored (i.e. listened to whilst they are being made or via the recording afterwards). Calls made from a prisoner telephone, other than exempted calls, are preceded by a recorded message which advises the recipient of the call that the call is coming from a Scottish Prison and the parties to the call that the call will be logged and recorded and may be monitored. Exempted calls made from a prisoner telephone are preceded by a recorded message which advises the recipient of the call that the call is coming from a Scottish Prison and the parties to the call that the call will be logged, but will not recorded or monitored.
We have a very similar system as you have in Sweden. Our prison telephone system for inmates is part of National Phone Operator. They operate special program where we regulate who could be called by inmate and who is not allowed to be called.
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?It is a pre-paid system. Inmates need to buy a credit through special code system.
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?Prices per minute range from 0.0772 EUR to 0.3256 EUR (per minute). If they call international prices are from 0.4438EUR (EUR), 0.6989 - 15.8931 - they depend on which international zone (3 zones) they call to.
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?They are allowed to call as many callers as they want, but they have to be allowed by the prison authority. They could use free call only to the 113 number and to the ombudsman.
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?We do not have any legislation for bug or record calls. From the system is possible to find out when and which telephone number was called and also duration of the call. If there is a decree of the court then bugging or recording is done through National Phone Operator.
Yes, we do have a similar system that can handle that the inmates call only pre-approved telephone numbers.
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?The rate that the inmates pay, includes the costs of the system.
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?The rate for phone calls in Denmark is 0,41 DKK per minute. We have different rates, if the inmates make calls to other countries.
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?Yes, the inmates are allowed to as many phone calls as they want, but in maximum secured prisons the inmates have a maximum of phone numbers they are allowed to call.
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?Yes, in the maximum secured prisons we are allowed to bug or record phone calls.
In Latvian imprisonment places there is a similar telephone exchange system as in Sweden. Inmates pay for the calls using their own means or the means of the receiver. Inmates pay for the telephone conversations with a card (prepaid card TURBO that works in the Baltic States as well as in USA, UK and Russia).
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?The costs of the system upkeep are covered by the Supplier (the Latvian Prison Administration has a signed contract with a supplier "For telephone installation, maintenance and provision of telephone line/connection in Latvian imprisonment places"), which has installed the system in imprisonment places.
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?All information regarding rates is available here: https://www.turbocard.lv/lv/turbo/tariffs/
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?According with Section 13 Part 1 Clause 5 of the Law On the Procedures for Holding under Arrest, an arrested person has the right to communicate with persons outside the investigation prison by correspondence, as well as using the telephone (payphone) of the investigation prison not less than once a month. The permitted length of a conversation shall be not less than 5 minutes. Expenditure for correspondence shall be covered by the arrested person, and for telephone conversations by the arrested person or the person to whom he or she is talking. However, according with Section 49 Part 5 of The Sentence Execution Code of Latvia, convicted persons shall be permitted to have such number of telephone conversations at their own expense or at the expense of the addressee as is determined in the relevant type of deprivation of liberty institution and corresponds to the level of the sentence serving regime.
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?No, listening devices are prohibited.
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Yes, we have a similar system. Prisoners are required to inform staff in advance of the numbers and people they wish to call by filling in a form reserved for this purpose. The numbers will be saved in the telephone system. A maximum of 20 numbers per prisoner are permitted. Each prisoner receives a personal code for the telephone that is for personal use only. The code may not be given to anyone else. Prisoners can purchase talk time from the commissary.
If yes, does the prison service in your country stand the cost for that system or do you charge the inmates?Prisoners pay only for their calls. The Criminal Sanctions Agency bears the cost of the system. The system is operated by a private company.
What do the inmates pay per minute for phone calls?The rate is 0.058 € per minute to landline telephones and 0.1488 € per minute to cell phones.
Are they allowed to as many phone calls as they want?Prisoners are allowed to make as many calls as they want. Prisoners may use the prisoner telephone during the opening hours of the wards. When the cell is locked, a prisoner may also ask the prison officer for permission to make a call. The number of calls is limited by the number of telephones available and the time reserved for phone calls in the daily schedule
Are you allowed to bug or record phone calls?The calls may be listened to or recorded if abuse is suspected. The prisoner and the recipient of the call have to be informed beforehand about the listening. A call between a prisoner and an authority in charge of the supervision of the operation of the prison, the prisoner’s attorney or legal counsel cannot be listened to.
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