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: The Irish Prison Service is currently reviewing the arrangements for the provision of items for sale to prisoners in prison Tuck Shops (Canteen/Commissary) facilities. The service would welcome feedback from other EuroPris member organisations on the arrangements operating in their prisons.
Shopping Facility a There is a shopping facility for all prisoners. b Prisoners are able to buy a range of goods, including writing materials and stamps. c There is a mechanism by which prisoners may purchase telephone call time. d Information is provided to prisoners about the range and price of goods available from the shopping facility. e Prisoners are consulted about the range of goods available from the shopping facility. f Opportunities to purchase canteen provisions are afforded at least twice per week to remand prisoners and once per week to convicted prisoners.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?Bag and tag.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?SPS staff.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?N/A
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
In the Luxembourgish closed prison, the detainees have the facility to spend 110€ a week on purchasing articles in the prison canteen. Four times a year (on determined holidays, like for example Christmas and Easter), the detainees have the opportunity to spend an amount of 220€ at the canteen. The goods that are sold at the canteen are mostly food (vegetables & fruit, pasta, rice, spreads, ham, fish and poultry, ice cream, etc.), beverage, tobacco, envelopes & writing paper, stamps, newspapers, sanitary products, electrical appliance, etc.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?The canteen functions on basis of an order and delivery service.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?The canteen is managed by prison staff.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?/
Tuckshops are in Hydebank Wood College, Maghaberry and Magilligan.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?Open Store counter service in Hydebank Wood College, bag and tag in Maghaberry and Magilligan.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?Both staff and prisoners canteens are operated by prison staff and assisted by a small prisoner work party.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?Not applicable.
Hungarian prisons have their own canteens which are managed and operated by the prisons themselves. There are two PPP (public private partnership) prisons in Hungary (Szombathely National Prison and Tiszalök National Prison) operated by external providers. Food listed on the menu is made in prison kitchens. In some prisons lunchrooms are provided where inmates are coordinated to per section, in other prisons inmates eat in their cells. Retail commerce takes place in shops located inside the prison, to be used only by prisoners. These shops are operated by the limited companies of the Hungarian Prison Service. In the two PPP prisons limited companies which operate these prisons are responsible for the canteens and the shops as well.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?Both systems are currently operating in the prison shops. In one of the Hungarian prisons inmates can choose products by a pricelist, the chosen products are then portioned to packages by the staff of the Hungarian Prison Service’s limited companies and then the inmates receive them. There is a self service or service system in other prisons – inmates can choose products of the shops. ‘Bag and Tag’ service is available for visitors at the time of the visit. They are allowed to buy a package in a value from 3 000 HUF (around 10 EUR) to 10 000 HUF (around 32 EUR). Packs usually contain biscuits, chocolate, coffee, tea, soft drinks or fruit.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?Kitchens in prisons – except the PPP ones – are managed by the prison’s Department of Economy, also responsible for nutrition. The direct leader is the nutritional team leader or the nutritionist. The tasks of the staff are to organize, coordinate and supervise inmates working in the kitchen.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?In PPP prisons kitchens are managed and operated by external providers. In this case the prison’s staff has a supervisory role of inmates working in the kitchen.
In every prison there is a little shop, where the prisoners can buy for example foodstuff, cosmetics, newspapers, magazines and cigarettes.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?The shops are open store counter. They are open twice a month.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?The shops are managed and operated by external retailer.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?Yes, the prison staff escorted the prisoners to the shop an guarded the purchase. The bills of the prisoners are settled by the responsible consultant in the administration with the funds of the prisoners (cashless payments).
Those who manage Canteen or Tuck Shop in our prison facilities are selected via public tender. On a basis of public tender interested parties submit their offers for renting premises in order to engage in commercial activities for inmates. In the process the most favourable one should be selected.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?We have an open store counter, inmates are however not allowed to circle around the shop freely but they stay in front of the counter and they could order items from there.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?All our canteens are operated by an external operator in mode as explained in the first reply.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?Prison officers need to bring people to the canteen according to the House rules and daily routine schedule. But prison officers or any other prison staff do not have any other role in operation of the canteen.
Various prison canteen facilities are offered. Every institution organizes the canteen facilities individually; there is no common supplier for all the institutions. Every institution works with local suppliers. In most institutions, the canteen facilities are organized in a largely similar way. The offer may differ according to the type of institution (house of arrest or prison for sentenced people/men’s or women’s section) and the possibilities offered by the prison regime (e.g. the possibility to prepare meals). Overview of the various canteen facilities: Canteen for incoming detainees Social canteen: free package for ‘incoming first-time detainees’ Every incoming first-time detainee receives a free package consisting of toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving products, comb), stationery, envelopes, a stamp, tobacco and a lighter. For women, the package also contains sanitary towels. Every detainee can also make a free (national or international) phone call to a person of his or her choice. Canteen for incoming detainees: most of the institutions organize a ‘canteen for incoming detainees’ for detainees who have just been arrested or who are transferred from another institutions. This canteen has a limited offer that varies per institution. In most cases, the following products are offered: phone credits, cigarettes, beverages, biscuits, stationery. The offer is limited as the institution keeps a stock of these products. Weekly - Weekly canteen: This is the most important canteen with the most varied range of food products and toiletries. The basic range is fairly similar in all the institutions. Depending on the possibilities of the institution and of the supplier, the range of products may be wider or narrower from one institution to another. - Newspapers - Halal products - Fruits and vegetables - Bakery products - Tobacco products: most of the institutions keep a stock of tobacco products and tobacco products are sold on a daily basis in many institutions. Fortnightly or monthly - Sports canteen: most institutions offer limited range of products (available via a catalogue) - Electronics canteen: idem - Pharmacy canteen: the necessary medication is of course supplied by the medical service. The pharmacy canteen mainly offers pharmaceutical products for comfort (e.g. muscle pain relief creams, throat lozenges, vitamins). For the pharmacy canteen, most of the institutions collaborate with a local pharmacist who supplies the products. Exceptional canteen This canteen offers the detainees the possibility to order products that are not on the canteen lists and that are only exceptionally ordered. These orders require special permission from the direction. Christmas and end-of-year canteen This canteen is organized for only a couple of weeks and is intended for the visitors of detainees. The visitors can buy goods that are delivered to the detainees.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?There is no ‘store’ in the Flemish prisons. In two institutions, visitors can purchase canteen products for the detainees on a daily basis. The purchased products are not directly handed to the detainees, but are brought to them in their cell. In most institutions, this system is also organized on a small scale for the ‘Christmas canteen’. In most of the institutions, all canteen products are delivered by an external supplier. The supplier prepares and delivers each detainee’s order individually. Most institutions work with a local supplier. In two large institutions with a sufficiently large storeroom, the canteen products are delivered in bulk and the individual orders are prepared on-site. Smaller institutions often have orders of certain products that are too small to appoint a specific supplier. Sometimes detainees also need products that are only ordered exceptionally. In that case, an exceptional canteen is organized and a staff member is assigned to buy the ordered products.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?The large canteens are delivered by an external supplier. Smaller canteens (e.g. tobacco products or stationery) are managed internally.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?1. Staff Regular canteens - The accounting department distributes the canteen lists among the detainees via the security staff on a weekly/monthly basis. - On set times, the security staff collects the various canteen lists and hands them to the accounting department. - The accounting department treats all the orders. For each detainee, it is verified whether there is enough money in the account. The amount of the order is blocked on the individual accounts. - The accounting department places the orders with the various suppliers and takes care of the billing. - The complete canteen is delivered to the institution (except for two institutions). The security staff distributes the canteen orders among the individual detainees. Each order is verified in the presence of the detainee. Lacking products, mistakes or products that do not meet the standards (e.g. bruised fruit) are reported to the accounting department. The accounting department reports this to the supplier and adapts the detainee’s bill. Exceptional canteen - For specific orders, a staff member (driver) is assigned to buy the products in a local store. 2. Detainees In each wing/section, detainees are assigned for maintenance, distribution of meals, etc. These detainees help the security staff with the internal distribution of the canteen orders. In the two institutions where the supplier delivers the canteen products in bulk, staff has been assigned to prepare the individual orders of the detainees and to deliver them to their cells, with the help of a number of detainees.
The Swedish Prison and Probation Service (SPPS) provide a couple of different facilities. SPPS has an open store counter, bag and tag delivery service, kiosk carriage where the shop holder sells the goods and there is a vending machine in one prison and custody.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?SPPS have both an open store counter where the inmates come and do their shopping and a delivery service (bag and tag) where the inmates have made an order in advance and prison staff deliver the goods to their room in a transparent plastic bag.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?Our canteens are operated by external operators.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?The prison staff are involved in surveillance if it´s an open store counter and if it´s a delivery service the staff make sure that the orders from the inmates reach the shop holder and then the prison staff deliver the goods back to the inmates.
In imprisonment places the facilities for the operation of prison canteen or prison shop are provided according with the normative acts that allow their operation.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?Depending on the prisoner status and regime level, the prisoners during the time specified in their daily agenda may visit the prison shop on their own or do the shopping with the intermediation of the prison staff. In the prison shop, a shopkeeper sells the goods.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?In three imprisonment places the canteens are managed by an external retailer, but in seven imprisonment places the canteens are managed by the prison administration.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?Imprisonment place can sign a cooperation agreement with an external retailer regarding the employment of prisoners, thus providing the opportunity to employ prisoners by involving them in the organization of work carried out by the external retailer. In imprisonment places, where external retailer organizes the work, the prison administration with the mediation of prisoners employed in the work crew ensures that the food, prepared by the retailer, is distributed to all prisoners. Prison administration also monitors how the retailer employs the prisoners.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
In our open prisons (12) and units (4), the inmates get permission of leave to go shopping in normal stores or there’s a little store provided by the prison. In our closed prisons (14) we have mostly – what probably could be called – Tuck Shops, which are small grocery stores. (We call them canteens, but they are only for buying groceries). Some of the Prison Canteens have so little storeroom that some groceries (for example vegetables) are being bought and delivered only according to the order from each prisoner. Two of our closed prisons don’t have a Tuck Shop at all. They have a contract with a supermarket downtown that delivers the groceries by the orders of the prisoners. The groceries are conveyed by the prison officers.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?We have both services in the Tuck Shops of our closed prisons.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?Our prison grocery shops are operated by the prison staff.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?In those prisons, that operate with an external retailer (supermarket downtown) which supplies the products a prisoner has ordered, prison staff has a role in conveying the groceries to protect the identity of the inmates.
Prisoners can purchase food products, tobacco, coffee and toiletry. In addition electronics, clothing and so on by order and delivery.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?There are order and delivery services as well as store counter services on food and toiletry.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?External operator in all tuck shops.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?Prisoners are getting monitored by prison staff. Prisoners can take part in the in house distribution process.
"Act on Execution of Prison Sentences" enables criminal authorities to provide supplies (food and other things) for the needs of prisoners. Penitentiaries which have technical abilities organize sale of supplies to prisoners through the shop / cafeteria. Most of the penitentiaries have a canteen in a separate area (a handy warehouse) with the appropriate safe access for the arrival and departure of prisoners to / from the store. Sale of necessities is provided in the cafeteria that prisoners buy there and then consume them in their rooms.. In some locations there is also a possibility to consume coffee, tea, sandwiches etc. (with limited retention, according to house rules ).
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?Penitentiaries with a shop / cafeteria are organized to purchase goods / articles; food, non-food, fruits and vegetables, newspapers and tobacco products. Selection of suppliers is done by a publicly-conducted procedure by selecting the most favorable supplier on the market for each type of item (by groups). A contract is signed with the most favorable supplier which regulates mutual relations and commercial terms (group of products, quantities, types, prices, delivery, control, payment and more). Penitentiaries without a canteen /shop deliever required products to prisoners from the best supplier. The required items are delivered packed to individual orders, respectively to the prisoner's request.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?A canteen/shop or individual orders are managed by the penitentiary. Several officers are responsible for these jobs divided in a certain stages; purchase, storage, sales, and financial records.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?A canteen/shop is not managed by an external operator. Prisoners are involved in the work of the canteen /shops, primarily as auxiliary workers in the store and / or in the warehouse (for which they are paid) and certainly participate in the selection of product range selection according to their wishes and needs.
Inside every prison unit there are both, store counter services and vending machines. From the store counter service, inmates can buy food and other goods such as clothing and shoes. From the vending machines, they can purchase cold and hot beverages as well as food. Inmates purchase their goods and products by a specific and personal prison card. An inmate receives a weekly limited amount of money which is withdrawn from their prison Money account. The inmate’s prison Money account receives income from their relatives in case they transfer money, and from the salary monthly pay they receive if they perform a job in prison. Inmates can also purchase small electronic devices such as radio or TV through CIRE, which is a statutory agency related to prison services. Every good purchased by an inmate undergoes a safety check before entering the prison.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?See answer to previous question.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?The counter store services are run by inmates under the supervision of prison staff. Inmates are paid for this job according to the standards of the work in prison for inmates.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?See answer to previous question.
Prison Canteen in England & Wales is managed through the Retail Prisoner service. This is a cost-neutral service which allows the whole retail operation to be funded by sales margin and without any cost of service to the Prison Service (or public purse). The service also provides employment opportunities through purposeful activity and an opportunity for prisoners to acquire skills for resettlement. In terms of the products on offer, there is a range to reflect the diverse needs of the prison population (BME, vegan, health care, and religious). Products available for purchase to the prisoner or those involved in the supply chain are checked to ensure there is no compromise to security. The selling prices reflect convenience store pricing (not greater than manufacturers recommended retail price) – the prices are checked quarterly.
Do you have an open store counter service or an order and delivery (bag and tag) service?The contract services prisoners through a ‘pick and pack’ order assembly model, through a network of 17 workshops that employ on average 45 prisoners per workshop per day over a working week of 4.5 days. We offer a national product list which consists of 700+ products to all prisoners subject to local establishments’ requirements. We operate a 'buffer' support process for prisons to hold additional stock for prisoners who arrive in custody. We also offer different reception packs if prisons do not want to offer a buffer support operation. We service 64,000 prisoners per week and pick on average a 1 million products weekly.
Are your canteens managed and operated by prison staff or by an external operator or retailer?The Retail Prisoner Service for England & Wales is operated under a national contract covering all public sector prisons as well as 4 private prisons. The contract is designed to ensure timely and consistent provision of retail products to prisoners.
If managed and operated by an external operator/retailer, do prison staff and/or prisoners have a role in its operation?HMPPS is responsible for this service via a nominated contractor. There is a HMPPS senior management team that focus on surety of service on behalf of the establishments. The provision of the fully managed service is ultimately the responsibility of contractor. However, the supply of all products on the National Product List and the associated administration is subcontracted. The contractor manages the contract, leading initiatives and providing impetus behind the operation. The sub-contractor procures the range and lead on decisions affecting product and supply.