Lost your Password?
Click Here
Don't have an account?
Register Here
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.
Want to ask a question? Please read our guidance information found here: Submitting a KMS Question
← Back Search KMSThis content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
Introduction: In Slovakia, in compliance with the current legislation of the Penal Code, prison sentence is served in three types of prisons (with low/minimum, medium and maximum-security level). The court decides on the classification of prisoners to particular types of prison in compliance with provisions of the Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. Courts classify prisoners to particular types of prisons generally only on the basis of criminal criteria (recidivism and seriousness of the offence), or in elected cases also outside those criteria (e.g. when a pre-trial detainee pleads guilty, the prosecutor can conclude with him/her a bargain also on the type of the prison to which he/she will be classified). The court decides also on any change of classification to a different type of prison. During the last visit to Slovakia, the CPT stressed again that classification of prisoners to prisons should always be carried out in compliance with an individual security risk (risk of escape, violence risk) and needs assessment in the light of each prisoner’s behaviour upon his/her admission to prison and not at the sentencing stage. Based on this, please answer the following questions:
Modern prisons are all the so called "type prisons". Inmates in different classification grades or judicial situations are distributes in the different modules of these prisons.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?Generally, is a competence of the administrative body, depending on the general situation of each prisoner.
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?Factors dealing with the security and personal situation of the prisoner -for example, where their relatives are- are much more important than te type of crime commited.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?First Ministry, and later the Justice System.
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.Yes. Each prison has different modules for recent inmates, inmates under sanction, inmates with good behaviour, dangerous inmates, and also, common areas as work places, studying facilities, etc.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
There are three types of prison establishment: prisons for inmates on remand (not yet sentenced), prisons for sentenced inmates and open prisons (for those inmates that are on 3rd grade of their sentence, close to release, and can either spend the day out to work and spend the night in the prison or live in their homes and go to the open prison only for supervision and complete treatment programmes). In addition, there is one prison dedicated only to inmates from 18 to 25 years old. Therefore the allocation of an inmate to a particular prison is based on objective aspects related to the stage of the judicial process, the stage of the prison treatment or the age group.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?Already described above.
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?The rationale behind the organisation of prison establishments as mentioned above responds to the needs of inmates and the type or programmes available to them when there are on remand, sentenced, close to release or they are within a specific age group.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?Not applicable
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.The prisons that host sentenced offenders are internally structured into classification programmes (inmates are classified into 3 possible grades along the time they have to serve their sentence) as well as treatment needs and risk assessment.
The following types of penitentiary establishments are designated for serving prison sentence: correction houses, prisons, open prison colonies and prison hospitals
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?the court when passing judgement
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?A type of a penitentiary establishment a sentenced inmate is allocated to serve a fixed-term custodial sentence is established by court taking into consideration an offender’s personality, type of crime committed and security risks. The amendments to the Criminal Sanctions Enforcement Code, which will come into force on 1 July 2020, shall establish a new procedure due to which the length of a sentence imposed and type of culpability shall also be taken into consideration when taking a decision on allocation to a specific establishment. The amendments shall establish that adult sentenced inmates upon whom a custodial sentence of 10 years and more is imposed and life sentenced inmates shall serve their sentence in prisons.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?n/a
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.In prisons, inmates are allocated to ordinary and disciplinary groups and placed in locked cells. In correction houses, sentenced inmates are allocated to ordinary, privileged and disciplinary groups. Inmates allocated to a disciplinary group are placed in locked cells, while inmates allocated to an ordinary group are placed in locked accommodation premises/ cells provided it is necessary for a correction house safety or as means of prevention of regime violations, etc. Inmates allocated to ordinary, privileged and disciplinary groups get a different number of visits, phone calls and outdoor exercise hours. In open prison colonies, inmates stay under supervision, there are no guards, they have the right to move around within a set area during the day, possess cash and valuables, get an unlimited number of visits, packages and mail, have a phone and use it, may keep on working outside the colony, etc.
In Finland prisons are either closed or open institutions.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?In Finland the prisoners are not classified. The director of the Assessment Centre in Criminal Sanctions Agency (Prison service) decides over the placement. Prisoners who will begin to serve their sentences in remand prison, will be placed into appropriate institution after and on the basis of risk and needs assessment and the sentence plan. In freedom the convicted person is invited for an interview in Probation Service in order to make a sentence plan. The placement is based on the sentence plan and decided by director of the Assesment Centre.
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?In Finland the prisoners are not classified. When preparing the sentence plan for the prisoner, his or hers risks and needs as well as security matters are assessed (SPJ). The procedure and the reasons of the decision over placement, as well as reasons of the prisoner transfer are fairly well defined, though the Assessment Centre execises significant discretion. General principles of the placement are: the municipality of residence of the prisoner, the maintenance of contacts with his or her close relatives or other close persons, his or her age, sex, state of health, the number of previous sentences, the earlier criminality of the prisoner and his or her own wish as well as the possibilities of his or her placement in the activity required in the sentence plan shall be taken into account. When making the decision on placement, also the possibilities of the prisoner to attend to matters relating to the enforcement of imprisonment in his or her own language shall be observed. A prisoner may not be placed in a prison or prison ward that is more closed than what is required by prison order and security as well as the security of imprisonment. A prisoner under 18 years of age shall be placed in a prison where he or she can be kept separate from adult prisoners unless otherwise required by his or her best interests. A sentenced person may be placed in an open institution directly on arrival from freedom if he or she has been sentenced to a fine-conversion sentence and to a sentence of imprisonment not exceeding two years, either combined or separately. A precondition for placement in an open institution is that the prisoner commits to abstinence from intoxicants and to the intoxicant abstinence control. The sentenced person shall, however, be placed in a closed prison if there is a justifiable reason to suspect that: 1) he or she is not suited for the activities arranged in or approved by an open institution; 2) he or she will not comply with the order of the open institution; 3) he or she will continue his or her criminal activity; 4) he or she will leave the open institution without authorisation; or that 5) he or she will not comply with intoxicant abstinence or consent to its control. A sentenced person may also be placed in a closed prison if there is no room in open institutions or if the prisoner himself or herself requests it. There are spesific sections and subsections regulating prisoner transfers.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?In Finland the prisoners are not classified. The director of the Assesment Centre decides on the transfer of a prisoner, unless he or she has delegated the decision-making power in the matter to the prison director. Either the prisoner him- or herself or the prison staff can propose the reassessment or transfer. The transfer -procedure and the reasons of the decision are fairly well defined, though the Assessment Centre execises significant discretion.
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.Prisons may be subject to different kinds of supervision. A prison may have wards that are different with regard to their degree of supervision and operations. In the placement in wards, consideration shall be taken of the plan for the term of sentence, the individual characteristics and age of the prisoner, the possibilities of the prisoner to fulfil his or her duty to participate, as well as the maintenance of prison order and security, the safety of the prisoner or another person and the prevention of criminal activity. Men and women shall be housed in separate accommodation wards. A prisoner under 18 years of age shall be held separate from adult prisoners unless otherwise required by his or her best interests. A prisoner shall be reserved the right, on request, to be accommodated fully or partially segregated from other prisoners if the prisoner has a justifiable reason to believe that his or her personal safety is in danger or if there is another acceptable reason for segregated accommodation. The rights of a person segregated on his or her own request may not be restricted more than is necessary due to the segregated accommodation. A prisoner shall be reserved the right to live in a ward where the prisoners commit themselves to activities arranged for the prisoners in the ward as well as to the intoxicant abstinence control. A ward separated from the rest of the prison may be established in a prison for security reasons (high-security ward). The rights of a prisoner placed in a high-security ward may not be restricted more than is necessarily required by the placement in the high-security ward. A prisoner placed in a high-security ward and his or her state of health shall be closely monitored. Prisoners placed in open institutions may spend time and move within the area of the prison or its ward, in the work place or in another activity centre without immediate supervision.
According with Section 13 of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia, a deprivation of liberty sentence shall be executed in a closed prison, a partly-closed prison or an open prison, or in a juvenile correction institution. As well, closed, partly-closed and open prison sections may be organized in some deprivation of liberty institutions. Additionally, we inform that convicted persons may also serve a custodial sentence in the isolated units of the remand prison and in the economic staff of the remand prison.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?The type of prison, in which a convicted person will start serving the sentence, is determined by the Latvian Prison Administration after the court judgement/decision has entered into legal force and at the request of custodial institution regarding the place of serving the sentence.
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?When determining the type of prison and the sentence serving level according to which the convicted person must start serving the imposed/determined sentence, the Latvian Prison Administration considers Section 7 "Classification of Criminal Offenses" of the Criminal Law and Section 504 "Sentence Execution Regime in Closed Prisons" of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia, Section 505 "Sentence Execution Regime in Partly-Closed Prisons" of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia, Section 506 "Sentence Execution Regime in Open Prisons" of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia and Section 507 "Sentence Execution Regime in Juvenile Correctional Institutions" of the Sentence Execution code of Latvia. Whereas, according with Section 131 of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia, the allocation of a convicted person in a specific deprivation of liberty institution in which the convicted person serves the imposed/determined sentence, shall be determined by the head of the Latvian Prison Administration taking into account medical, security and prevention of crime criteria, as well as the requirements of the sentencing regime imposed on the convicted person and the number of free places in custodial institutions.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?According with Section 131 of the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia, the decision of the Head of the Latvian Prison Administration about the placement of the convicted person in a custodial institution shall not be contested or appealed.
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.Currently, 9 custodial institutions have been established in the territory of Latvia according with the orders of Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Latvia: • Olaine Prison (the Latvian Prison Hospital) is a closed prison with a partly-closed prison unit, open prison unit, remand prison unit, Latvian Prison Hospital and the Centre of Addicts; • the Riga Central Prison is a remand prison with a closed prison unit and a partly-closed prison unit; • Ilguciema Prison (women prison) is a partly-closed prison with a juvenile correctional institution unit and remand prison unit ; • Liepaja Prison is a remand prison with a closed prison unit and a partly-closed prison unit; • Jelgava Prison is a closed prison with a remand prison unit; • Jekabpils Prison is a partly-closed prison with an open prison unit; • Valmiera Prison is a closed prison with a remand prison unit; • Daugavgriva Prison is a closed prison with a partly-closed prison unit, open prison unit and a remand prison unit ; • Cesu Correctional Institution for Juveniles – a correctional institution for juveniles with a remand prison unit.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
In Slovenia there are six prisons, which are separated facilities operating in 14 different locations and one correctional home. Differentiation of imprisoned persons is based on gender, age, type of sentence, duration of sentence, and degree of security. There is open, semi-open and closed regime of serving prison sentence. The Instructions on the placement and sending of sentenced persons to serve prison sentences prescribes for each of our facility the form of serving of sentence.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?According to the Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions Act, inmates are sent to institutions according to the Instructions on the placement and sending of sentenced persons to serve prison sentences prescribed by the Minister of Justice. First of all the Court decides according to the Instructions on the placement and sending of sentenced persons to serve prison sentences where someone will serve each sentence. Inmate could be later on transferred after admission faze by the Prison Administration if there is reason for that.
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?Decision on classification is based on the length of sentence and also other criminal criteria.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?Prison service could move inmate from one location on the request of inmate or on initiative of the prison administration if there is overcrowding or other security reasons.
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.No, individual types of prisons are not internally structured, there are only open, semi-open and closed regime of serving prison sentence.
Penal institutions (prisons and penitentiaries) in Croatia differ by the level of security and freedom of prisoners’ movement. Prisons are all closed and penitentiaries can be closed, semi-open or open. No matter its basic level of security, each institution can have closed, semi-open or open wards. Closed conditions are characterised by the wall and/or wired fence, grids, cameras, higher number of custodial officers - judiciary police officers (ratio of about one officer per two prisoners), little freedom of movement, strict supervision, etc. Semi-open conditions are as a rule bordered only by simple fence, have large areas where a lot of different activities can take place (agricultural areas, different workshops, premises and areas for sport activities etc). Prisoners can move inside institution with a little supervision and can achieve larger range of different benefits, such as home-leaves. Number of custodial officers is smaller than in closed conditions (ratio of about 1 officer per 4 prisoners). Open conditions are even less strict than semi-open in a sense of security and freedom of movement, but in all other characteristics are more or less the same. Biggest difference is that in open penitentiary there is no fence and there are no custodial officers at all.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?Convicted persons are referred to the enforcement of prison sentence by the enforcement judge having territorial jurisdiction over the place of convict's permanent or temporary residence. Convicted person sentenced to prison sentence for less than six months, and convicts who have to serve the remainder of their prison sentence not exceeding six months shall be sent to the prison nearest to the place of their permanent or temporary residence. Convicted persons sentenced to prison sentence of more than six months, and those who have to serve the remainder of their prison sentence exceeding six months shall be referred to the Diagnostic Centre in Zagreb for the purpose of the performing risk and needs assessment, proposing individual program of the enforcement of the prison sentence and proposing of the prison or penitentiary in which the sentence is going to be enforced (prisoner usually stays in the Diagnostic Centre for one month). Based on this proposal, the Head Office of the Directorate for Prison System and Probation then decides on the prison or penitentiary where the sentence is going to be enforced. Also, at any time of the imprisonment the prisoner may be transferred from one to another prison or penitentiary for further serving of the sentence. The Head Office of the Directorate for Prison System and Probation decides on the transfer of prisoner on the proposal of director of the prison/penitentiary. The director may propose transfer of a prisoner for the purpose of the implementation of the individual program of the enforcement of the prison sentence or when it is necessary because of the organization of the enforcement of a sentence and of security. The director shall propose transfer of a prisoner from open or semi-open penitentiary or a ward of the prison into a closed penitentiary/prison if a there is a new ongoing criminal proceedings against them, if a new prison sentence longer than 6 months has been pronounced to them, if disciplinary proceedings for more severe disciplinary infraction has been initiated against them or if prisoner frequently breaches the house rules of a prison/penitentiary. If it is necessary because of the organization of the enforcement of a prison sentence and of security, a decision on the transfer of a prisoner to another prison or penitentiary may be reached by the Head Office of the Directorate for Prison System and Probation without director's proposal.
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?The decision is guided by the “General benchmarks on referring to the enforcement of the prison sentence and classification of prisoners” adopted by the Minister of Justice, and it is made while taking into consideration assessment made by the Diagnostic Centre in Zagreb, which includes social domain (family, educational, working domain), criminological (previous convictions, ongoing criminal proceedings etc), psychological (cognitive abilities, personality traits, capacities for adjustment, addictions, psychopathological tendencies) and health domain. In case of transfer, report from the prison/penitentiary is taken into consideration, including risk and needs assessment, achievement of the of the individual program of the enforcement of the prison sentence and the reasons for transfer.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?In case of the referral to the enforcement of prison sentence (beginning of the sentence and referral from Diagnostic Centre in Zagreb to prison/penitentiary), there is no legal possibility for a review. In case of transfer from one prison/penitentiary to another prisoner is entitled to file a complaint to the assistant minister responsible for the prison system, within three days from the receipt of the decision. The complaint does not delay execution of the decision.
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.The prison system consists of Head Office, Training Centre (for prison staff), Diagnostic Centre, 14 prisons, 7 penitentiaries (one of which is Prison Hospital) and 2 juvenile correctional institutions. Prison sentence is enforced only in prisons and penitentiaries (and only shortly in Diagnostic Centre for the time of the assessment). As already explained under answer to first question, in terms of enforcement of sentence and accommodation of prisoners, each prison and penitentiary may have closed, semi-open or open wards. In the terms of internal organization of work, depending on their size and the content of their tasks, prisons and penitentiaries may have departments. The departments may be established for the following fields: security, treatment administration, healthcare, work and vocational training, and finances. In prisons and penitentiaries where there aren’t conditions to set up a department, a unit can be set up for the field of security and other fields within the scope of the work of prisons or penitentiaries.
There are no prison 'types' in Scotland. Scotland has 15 establishments comprising 13 closed prisons, one open prison and one Young Offenders Institution. Those serving a custodial sentence are classified as low, medium or high risk throughout the penal estate.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?N/A
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?N/A
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?N/A
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.N/A
In Estonia we have closed and open prisons.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?In Estonia, the Treatment Plan, which is a regulation of the Minister of Justice, determines which prison is competent to receive prisoners and persons in custody. In general, prisoners shall be placed to closed prisons pursuant to the Treatment Plan, taking into consideration the length of the actual sentence imposed, age, sex, state of health, official place of living and characteristic features of the prisoner. Prisoner shall be placed in prison defined in Treatment Plan no later than three months after court judgment or court ruling is entered into force. Persons in custody shall be placed in closed prisons or houses of detention pursuant to the Treatment Plan, taking into consideration age and sex and the location of the court that applied for custody. Deviations from the general rule of placement in a prison or the transfer of prisoners or persons in custody between prisons is decided by the Ministry of Justice. Placement of prisoners to open prisons is decided by the prison. A prisoner may be transferred to an open prison with his or her consent if it becomes evident on the basis of the individual treatment plan of the prisoner that it is not practical for the prisoner to serve his or her sentence in a closed prison, when the actual term of his or her imprisonment is not more than one year or if the unserved term is not more than 18 months, and there is adequate reason to presume that the prisoner will not commit new offences. Persons sentenced for life imprisonment may be placed in an open prison, if they have served at least 23 years of the term of the punishment. The procedure for the transfer of prisoners from closed prisons to open prisons is establised by the treatment plan.
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?Please read the answer to the previous question.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?The Ministry of Justice shall review the challenges filed against administrative acts issued or measures taken by a director of a prison. The prison service shall review challenges filed against administrative acts issued or measures taken by other persons working at the prison. Prisoners and persons in custody have the right to file complaints with an administrative court against administrative acts issued or measures taken by a prison on the bases and pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Code of Administrative Court Procedure provided that the prisoner or person in custody has previously filed a challenge to the prison service or the Ministry of Justice and the prison service or the Ministry of Justice has rejected the challenge, satisfied the challenge in part, denied the challenge or failed to adjudicate the challenge during the term.
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.Every closed prison consists of units (about 100-200 prisoners per unit). Allocation of prisoners between units is based on age (juveniles), gender (specialized women´s unit), health conditions (drug addicts, mentally ill), crime comitted (sex-offenders), risks (based on risk assessment). Prisoners with risk to continue with organizeing crimes from prison and who are extremely dangerous, are placed in a maximum security unit. Persons in custody are being kept separately from prisoners.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
All prisons in England and Wales are able to hold convicted offenders who are serving a sentence. Prisons are defined both by their function and by the security category of offender they are able to accommodate. Many establishments have more than one function. Their security category is determined by the highest category of offender they are able to accommodate. Function Reception prisons primarily serve the courts and hold those remanded in custody to await trial and offenders who have been convicted and are awaiting categorisation and allocation to another establishment. Long-term High Security prisons hold those offenders categorised to Category A (including in remand) as well as Category B individuals, most typically at the start of a long sentence. Closed Training prisons provide a range of facilities for individuals in Categories B or C who typically are serving medium to long-term sentences. Individuals tend to be employed in a variety of activities such as prison workshops, gardens and education and in offending behaviour programmes. Regardless of where they are in their sentence, these prisons are focussed on providing individuals with the opportunity to develop skills to find work and resettle back in the community on release. Closed resettlement prisons typically accommodate Category C individuals serving a short sentence or who are approaching their release. The aim is to prepare an individual for release and resettlement into the community through building, maintaining or improving family and community ties and providing access to local community services. Open Prisons accommodate Category D individuals towards the end of their sentence, whose risk of absconding and risk of harm to the public is assessed as low. Open prisons support the safe resettlement of prisoners back into society. Some open prisons have workshop facilities but it is expected that the majority of individuals will work in the community, returning to the prison in the evening. Security Category Adult male prisons are designated as Category A, B, C or D. Categories A, B and C are closed prisons. These have a secure perimeter and a range of internal security measures. Category C prisons provide a level of physical and procedural security capable of safely and securely managing the majority of men; Category B prisons provide additional physical and procedural security suitable for managing those identified as presenting a greater level of risk and Category A (high security) prisons accommodate the most dangerous individuals. Category D prisons are open establishments with minimal perimeter and physical security features and are for those specifically assessed as suitable for conditions of low security. Individuals are categorised to categories A, B, C or D in line with the process described below. They must not be held in a prison of a lower category than that assigned to them, although they may in some circumstances be held in a higher security category. For example, while awaiting transfer or to undertake a specific offending behaviour programme. The security categories and process of categorising women and young adult males (18-20) is slightly different, though the same general principles apply.
Who (and when) decides on the type of prison to which the prisoner shall be classified (the court when passing judgement, the prison service after admission and the like)?Once an individual is convicted and sentenced he is returned to the Reception prison where he will be assessed for a security category. This is an individual risk assessment process and determines the security category to be assigned to him at the outset of sentence. It is completed within a few days of sentencing. Those who are considered to meet the criteria for Category A will in most cases have been held in conditions high security while on remand. All cases being considered for Category A after sentencing will be assessed at HMPPS headquarters. All other cases are categorised by the reception prison by staff in the establishment’s Offender Management Unit. All individuals have their category reviewed at regular, prescribed intervals or whenever there is a significant change in risk. This review is completed by the prison in which he is held, other than for Category A individuals where the review is completed at Headquarters. Those serving a life sentence have their suitability for open conditions considered by the Parole Board. Most individuals have an annual review until they are closer to their earliest release date when the review will take place every 6 months. The aim is that they are assigned the lowest security category consistent with managing their risk at all stages of their sentence. Allocation to a specific establishment of the correct category is a separate process to categorisation. The allocation process may take account of the offender’s training needs, closeness to home etc. An individual may be re-allocated during sentence for a number of reasons including after a change of security category; to undertake specific offending behaviour work at a different prison or because he has reached a different stage in sentence (for example, moving from a training to a resettlement prison).
The body stated in answer 2, based on which criteria does it decide on classification of prisoners to prison of a certain type?The categorisation process is an assessment of the security risks posed by the individual. This includes risk to the public, risk of escape and custodial risks such as violence, serious disorder, ongoing criminality etc. It will assess a range of information including the nature of the offence and any previous convictions; any further serious charges; previous custodial behaviour such as escape attempts/abscond; custodial violence, any information about ongoing criminality etc. The allocation process (described above) takes account of the individual’s needs once a security category has been determined.
In case the prison service decides on types of prisons to which prisoners are classified, who can review this decision (the court, prosecution, ministry and the like)?Categorisation is an open process, and individuals can see their completed assessment. In some cases, sensitive information might be withheld for prescribed purposes, but nonetheless the individual will still be told in general terms, what information has been relied on in reaching a decision in his case. The individual can ask that the categorisation decision is reviewed, in which case the decision will be taken afresh by someone senior to the member of staff who made the original decision. If the individual is still unhappy with the outcome, he can escalate his complaint including to the prisons’ Ombudsman. An individual’s solicitor may also write to the prison about their client’s categorisation. Cases can be taken to Judicial Review.
Are the individual types of prisons internally structured? If yes, please specify.All prisons have an internal management structure including a Governing Governor who is responsible for the establishment and a Deputy Governor. Depending on the size, complexity, function and category of the establishment there will also be a number of other management/governor grades responsible for specific functions in the establishment such as security; residential services; safety etc. Each Governor reports to a Prison Group Director [PGD] who manages 4-8 prisons geographically. The PGD's report through the line to an Executive Director of which there are 4 nationally.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.