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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: Latvian Prison Administration would like to find some information about managment of prisoners personal finances .
Personal money of prisioners is stored in a external bank.
How is the managment of prisoners personal finances organised?Each inmate has a personal account called "peculio" and organised in an internal informatic programme. Inside the prison they use personal cards related to their accounts.
Do prisoners have the right to receive money while in custody or are there any restrictions?Yes. The person giving the money must be identificated. Restrictions may come from a security point of view in relation to transfers between inmates.
Do prisoners have the right to make money transfers without restrictions or are there restrictions on money transfers?The same as before.
Do prisoners pay the fees provided by the prison facility?No.
Do prisoners have the right to shop in the store? How do the prisoners pay for items purchased in the store?Yes, they can buy inside and outside the prison, depending on the product they ask for. They pay with the money they have in their personal account or "peculio".
In what way is the money being paid after prisoner is released from custody?They are given their money in cash, check or transfer.
At closed prison: If the money is in euro currency, it will be loaded to the prepaid card. Maximum per month is 5.000 €. If there is foreign currency, it will be store at prison safety box, and the prisoner will get it when he/she will be released or it can be given to him/her for the prison leave. Open prison: Prisoner can have his/her money at own possession as well as his/her debit card and credit card. If the prisoner does not have own debit card, prison will give him/her prepaid card where CSA can pay his/her earnings at prison.
How is the managment of prisoners personal finances organised?Closed prison: Prisoner can make canteen purchases once a week and pay with the prepaid card. If he needs to pay his/her invoices with the prepaid card during the prison time the personal of the prison will pay them if the prison director approves the payment. He/she can also send bank transfer sheets to his/her bank to pay from his/her own bank account. Open prison: If the prisoner has his/her own debit card, he/she can use it for the shopping. If he/she has the prepaid card, the payments are made the same ways as in the closed prison by the approval of prison director. If they use their own bank accounts they have to apply the use of the pc from the prison director and they cannot use smart phones.
Do prisoners have the right to receive money while in custody or are there any restrictions?Prisoner can give his/her prepaid card account number (SEPA account) to the sender. Maximum incoming money to the prepaid card per month is 5.000 € (including also earnings from the prison).
Do prisoners have the right to make money transfers without restrictions or are there restrictions on money transfers?All the payments from the prepaid card have to have approval from the prison director. Maximum incoming money to the prepaid card per month is 5.000 € (including also earnings from the prison).
Do prisoners pay the fees provided by the prison facility?If the prisoner uses the prepaid card, CSA does not charge them for it. Only if the prisoner has destroyed prepaid card and needs to have new one, we will charge 10 euro from the fifth card.
Do prisoners have the right to shop in the store? How do the prisoners pay for items purchased in the store?Closed prison: Some of the canteens inside the prison are such stores where prisoners can go inside and choose what to buy from shelves and pay themselves at cashdesk. But there are still canteens where from prisoners do make a list what they would like to by in advance and pay when they receive the goods with the card, Open prison: Only a few open prison have such canteens like in closed prisons, those canteen can be either stores or prisoners can make list in advance and pay when they receive the goods. Some of the prisons do transport prisoners once a week to the nearest shop or prisoners are allowed once a week walk to the nearest shop where they can make their shopping themselves.
In what way is the money being paid after prisoner is released from custody?If the prisoner has own bank account and gives that bank account to us, CSA will pay their earnings according to payment schedule to their bank account. Most of the prisoners are released with the prepaid card and CSA will pay their earnings same way as with the own bank account. Only if the prisoner will be deported outside SEPA area or if the prisoner will be transferred to another country to continue their imprisonment, they will be received all the money from the prepaid card and coming earnings with cash.
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The personal money of prisoners is stored in a deposit account at the institution.
How is the managment of prisoners personal finances organised?The management of prisoners’ personal finances is organised in compliance with the Regulations or Descriptions on the Accounting of Prisoners Personal Finances approved by the penitentiary institution.
Do prisoners have the right to receive money while in custody or are there any restrictions?Inmates have the right to receive money from and send money to their spouses, partners and close relatives, and to other persons with the permission of the prison director or the deputy director (Art. 98 of the Penitentiary Code - Right of inmates to receive and send money orders.) The legislation does not provide for any restrictions of the amount.
Do prisoners have the right to make money transfers without restrictions or are there restrictions on money transfers?see above
Do prisoners pay the fees provided by the prison facility?Inmates pay for the electricity consumed by the allowed personal electric appliances in their possession. The following amounts are deducted from inmates’ wages to a social support fund for inmates: in open colonies - 10%, in correctional houses, central prison hospital and prisons - 25%. The procedure for the establishment of the social support fund for inmates and the use of its funds is determined by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Moreover, additional deductions (except for open prison colonies) of 5% are made to the untouchable part of an inmate’s personal account, which an inmate is not allowed to use. The money from this account shall be given to an inmate only upon release.
Do prisoners have the right to shop in the store? How do the prisoners pay for items purchased in the store?Yes. The money for the items purchased in the store is debited from their personal account.
In what way is the money being paid after prisoner is released from custody?Inmates are paid cash from the cash desk upon release.
Prisoners’ money 51.—(1) The Governor may specify in relation to any prisoner or any category of prisoner, whether the prisoner or any prisoner in that category (a) may have cash in his or her possession; and (b) if so, the maximum amount of, or the denominations of, cash which the prisoner may possess. (2) Any other money belonging to a prisoner which (a) represents earnings paid by virtue of rule 86; or (b) has been received in the prison and which does not exceed any restrictions as to the amount of money which a prisoner may receive as may be prescribed in a direction made under rule 55(5), must be paid into an account under the control of the Governor. (3) Subject to paragraph (4), a prisoner may withdraw money held in an account under paragraph (2) by authorising the Governor to deduct such sums as are required for the purpose of (a) making specific payments to persons outwith the prison; or (b) purchasing any article in prison or arranging for any article to be delivered to the prison. (4) The Governor may specify in relation to any prisoner, or any category of prisoner, the maximum amount which may be withdrawn by that prisoner or that category of prisoners (a) during any specified period; and (b) for the purposes of purchasing any article in prison or any article to be delivered to prison. (5) The Governor must, in respect of each prisoner (a) keep a record of all money deposited in an account controlled by the Governor under paragraph (2); (b) keep a record of all money withdrawn in an account controlled by the Governor under paragraph (2); and (c) make such arrangements as the Governor considers appropriate for all monies held in an account controlled by the Governor under paragraph (2) to be paid to the prisoner on release from prison other than on temporary release. (6) Nothing in this rule is to be interpreted as preventing a prisoner from opening or maintaining an account with a bank or a building society but the use of such an account will be subject to the other provisions of these Rules.
Do prisoners have the right to receive money while in custody or are there any restrictions?As Q2
Do prisoners have the right to make money transfers without restrictions or are there restrictions on money transfers?As Q2
Do prisoners pay the fees provided by the prison facility?As Q2
Do prisoners have the right to shop in the store? How do the prisoners pay for items purchased in the store?As Q2
In what way is the money being paid after prisoner is released from custody?As Q2
In a non-interest bearing HMPPS Bank Account
How is the managment of prisoners personal finances organised?Via our Offender Management system. There is a finance section that records all transactions.
Do prisoners have the right to receive money while in custody or are there any restrictions?Yes they are allowed to receive funds (attached)
Do prisoners have the right to make money transfers without restrictions or are there restrictions on money transfers?We allow funds to be sent out but there are some restrictions and Governors do have local discretion to approve
Do prisoners pay the fees provided by the prison facility? Do prisoners have the right to shop in the store? How do the prisoners pay for items purchased in the store?If this means do prisoners contribute to the running costs of the prison then no they do not. (Only Damage Obligations to repay costs of damage but I wouldn’t say this contributes to the cost of the prison)
In what way is the money being paid after prisoner is released from custody?Cash or cheque
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Cash money brought by inmates to the prison are collected by arrival. If it is national cash money, they are transferred to the account for the individual inmate. If it is foreign currency, the money is registered and put in a sealed envelope and stored in the safe.
How is the managment of prisoners personal finances organised?We have a detailed set of regulations. Administrative staff is trained to keep correct order for each inmate. A national it-system is used in all prisons. Every inmate in a prison is given an individual account shortly after their arrival. This account is separated completely from other inmates as well as from the prisons systems of economy. Each individual account is separated into four different sub-accounts; 1. private , 2. work and activities in the prison, 3. personal savings and 4. an account in purpose of social support/ pensions from the outside society. Inmates are regularly informed about their finances. A new system of electronic cards for each inmate is being implemented in several prisons. The prisoners can no longer carry any coins or notes. The card is controlled by the account- office in the administration. Inmates are using the card very similar to the outside society. The card is used primarily for the prison shop.
Do prisoners have the right to receive money while in custody or are there any restrictions?Inmates may receive money while in prison. If there is a suspicion that the money is illegal, the police is informed. The use of the money is strictly regulated.
Do prisoners have the right to make money transfers without restrictions or are there restrictions on money transfers?Transfer of money between inmates is prohibited, without permission compatible with peace, order and security in the prison. Transfer from the inmate to outside recievers are possible with a permisson from the prison.
Do prisoners pay the fees provided by the prison facility?No fees are provided when serving time in a prisons the general rule. In some cases, close to the release, the inmate may be transferred to a halfway house or similar open facilities, to take part in work, traning-programmes or other measures outside the prison. It may be required that wages must be transferred to the prison, and a deduction can be made from the wage for day-release living expenses.
Do prisoners have the right to shop in the store? How do the prisoners pay for items purchased in the store?Yes, prisoners are allowed to shop if the prison has a shop. If no shop is located inside the prisons, this is organized in connection with a local shop. Most closed prisons have a shop with a limited amount of items. This has been a prioritized field to “normalize” a life inside a prison. It is allowed to purchase items once a week. Inmates are paying by the use of electronic cards, or transferring from account, see above.
In what way is the money being paid after prisoner is released from custody?If cash money is stored, this is deliver edto the prisoner. If money is in the account-system, the money is usually transferred to a private bank-account of the released person.
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According to Sec. 28 par. 1 of the Act no. 475/2005 Coll. on Prison Sentence Execution as amended (hereinafter only “the Act”), during prison sentence execution prisoners shall be accounted and registered the finances on their accounts. The account of the prisoner shall consist of: a) the personal account and b) the pocket account. According to Sec. 28 par. 2 of the Act, prisoners can be sent the finances by an order of the postal system of payments or by a cashless transfer on the account of foreign resources of the prison. Finances sent or allocated to the prisoner shall be registered on his personal account. The prisoner shall confirm the information on the delivery of the finances for him on the account of foreign resources of the prison by his signature. In case the prisoner refuses to receive the finances, these shall be returned to the sender or committer upon the written request of the prisoner. The costs related with the return of the finances shall be reimbursed from the refused sum of the finances. The finances that are taken from an inmate on admission to pre-trial detention or prison sentence, are automatically registered on the personal account of the inmate in the information system entitled “Financial records of accused and convicted persons” of a prison (hereinafter only “information system of the Corps”).
How is the managment of prisoners personal finances organised?According to Sec. 28 par. 5 of the Act, drawing of finances on the pocket account shall not be restricted. According to Sec. 28 par. 7 of the Act, the prison shall block the prisoner on his personal account the finances necessary in the time of release from prison sentence execution for ensuring a) allowance for one day, b) travel costs to the place of the permanent address or place of the temporary address in the amount of 10 % of the subsistence minimum sum. According to Sec. 28 par. 8 of the Act, prisoners can apart from finances blocked according to par. 7 of this Act, draw finances accounted and registered by the prison on their personal accounts mostly to the amount of reimbursement of the a) Alimony, b) Claims relating the pre-trial detention or prison sentence execution, c) Claims of other entitled registered in the prison. According to Sec. 28 par. 9 of the Act, payment of deductions according to par. 8 of this Act, shall be executed on the basis of the written request of the prisoner once a calendar week on the determined workday. According to Sec. 28 par. 10 of the Act, in case the prisoner has not meet the conditions of the claim reimbursement according to par. 8 of this Act and requests in writing for drawing of finances from his personal account, he can draw the finances only for a) Shopping of the basic needs of personal hygiene, b) Shopping of further needs of personal hygiene, c) Shopping of the basic correspondence needs, d) Reimbursement of the court charges and administrative charges, e) Shopping of medicines that cannot be provided for free on the basis of the health insurance according to a special regulation, reimbursement of necessary costs for services connected with health care provision according to a special regulation. The manipulation with finances of the inmate is carried out cashless using an identification card of the inmate (ID card), which he shall use to identify himself when shopping in the prison shop, to charge a credit for phoning and when phoning. Prisoners placed in open units may use cash when shopping outside the prison. The finances sent to the prisoner by an order of the postal system of payments or by a cashless transfer on the account of the prison, shall be registered on the personal account of the prisoner. The possibility to draw finances registered on the personal account of the prisoner depends on the fact, whether 1. blocking for allowance and travel costs had been made from the finances registered on the personal account of the prisoner, and 2. alimony and claims against the prisoner are recorded in the prison. If blocking for allowance and travel costs has not been made from the finances registered on the personal account of the prisoner, the allocated finances or a part of them shall be used to create it. These blocked finances shall be paid to the prisoner when releasing him from the prison in order to have finances to travel home. Currently, the amount of blocked finances is 33,41 EUR. Besides shopping in the prison shop and purchasing the credit for phoning, the prisoner shall request in written the Economy Division in the prison for drawing the finances from his account. On the basis of fulfilled conditions, the staff of the Economy Division shall perform requested drawing by recording it into information system of the Corps.
Do prisoners have the right to receive money while in custody or are there any restrictions?Please see the answers to questions no. 1 and 2. The prisoner may draw finances from the pocket account without limits, up to the amount of the account. The prisoner may draw finances from the personal account over the amount for blocking made for allowance and travel costs. In case, alimony and claims are registered against the prisoner, at first he must request the staff of the Economy Division for their payment and then the prisoner may draw finances for e.g. purchasing in the prison shop, sending finances to close person, purchasing magazines, paying the electricity, etc.
Do prisoners have the right to make money transfers without restrictions or are there restrictions on money transfers?Money transfers are limited according to answer to the question no. 3. However, if the conditions are met, a maximum limit for transfers of finances is not determined.
Do prisoners pay the fees provided by the prison facility?According to Sec. 29 par. 2 of the Act, in case the prisoner during prison sentence execution receives a pension, he is obliged to refund the charges of the prison sentence execution from the pension in the amount of 50 % of the pension, though mostly for one calendar month in the sum equivalent the wage part non-perceivable by the execution of a decision according to a special regulation.* The charges shall be rounded down to whole eurocents. * This special regulation is Sec.1 par. 1 of the Regulation of the Government of the Slovak Republic No. 268/2006 Coll. on the Extent of Deductions in Execution of Decision, as amended. According to this section, the basic sum that shall not be drawn to obliged person from his monthly wage is 100 % of the subsistence minimum on adult natural person valid in a moth in which deductions are made. The current sum for subsistence minimum per one adult natural person is 218,06 EUR. By paying the charges of the prison sentence, there are partially compensated costs of the prison for the provision of meals, energy, clothes, hygiene, health care including psychological services, information access (library, TV), cultural events (performances, concerts, discussions), various sport and other activities which are in many cases ensured by the prison free of charge. The prisoners pay, from their finances registered on the account, the electricity consumption for the electrical appliance allowed by the prison (TV, electric kettle, etc.), washing own laundry, purchase of books and magazines, some medical procedures which are not covered by the public healthcare insurance (dental care), sending correspondence, costs connected with phoning, etc.
Do prisoners have the right to shop in the store? How do the prisoners pay for items purchased in the store?According to Sec. 30 par. 1 of the Act, prisoners have the right to shopping of groceries, things of personal need and other things in the prison shop at least once a calendar week on the determined day in an adequate amount and taking into account the possibility of their safe storage in the box and in compliance with ensuring the health harmlessness of the groceries; in determined cases at latest until five working days from his entry to the prison sentence execution or transfer from another prison. The shopping is permitted only in form of the cashless transfer apart for open units, where the shopping is permitted by the cash payment in the prison or outside it. The amount of the shopping must not exceed the treble of the subsistence minimum sum in a calendar month according to a special regulation. Shopping in the prison shop is carried out cashless, through verification of ID card of the prisoner, while the purchase sum is automatically registered on his account recorded in the information system of the Corps. Prisoners placed in open units can shop outside the prison using cash finances.
In what way is the money being paid after prisoner is released from custody?According to Sec. 40 par.8 of Regulation of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic No. 368/2008 Coll. that issues the Rules of Prison Sentence Execution as amended (hereinafter only “the Regulation no. 368/2008”), the prisoner shall be paid, after his release from prison, the rest of finances on his account from the treasury of the prison. In case the prison does not have enough finances when releasing the prisoner, the prison shall pay him at least the sum according to a special regulation. The remaining finances shall be sent to the prisoner without delay on the address stated by him or to the account held in a bank or a branch of a foreign bank. According to Sec. 39 par. 9 of the Regulation no. 368/2008, when releasing the prisoner, unused credit for phoning must be returned to him. According to Sec. 94 par. 3 of the Act, the prison may provide from its budget alimentation or allowance on one day, an irrecoverable financial contribution for the travel ticket or a travel ticket on the territory of the Slovak Republic to the prisoner who has not enough finances for travelling expenses and allowance according to sec. 28 par. 7 of the Act. From the above mentioned regulations of the generally binding regulations follows that when releasing the prisoner, the prisoner shall be paid in cash the rest of the finances on his account by the treasury of the prison. To the prisoner who has not enough finances for allowance and travel home, the prison shall provide these finances (allowance and travel expenses on one day, currently in the amount of 33,41 EUR) as an irrecoverable financial contribution that is paid in cash. In case the prisoner released from prison has higher amount of finances in his account, the determined member of staff of the Economy Division may suggest him the possibility to pay him a part of the finances in cash and the rest of finances will be send to him by a cashless transfer or by an order of the postal system of payments.
The personal money of prisoners is stored in an inmate’s electronic account in the IVV (Integrierte Vollzugsverwaltung – “Gefangenengeldverrechnung GGV” / Digital Integrated Prison Management).
How is the managment of prisoners personal finances organised?The following answers relate to the main group of sentenced prisoners. There are special regulations for prisoners on remand, financial offenders and partly for juvenile prisoners. The inmates’ account is divided into 3 main groups: 1. “Own money” (“Eigengeld”), 2. “house money” (“Hausgeld”), 3. “reserve” (“Rücklage”) Money that the prisoner has with him/her when he/she is admitted or that was received by him/her later is to be credited to him/her as his/her “own money”. The inmate cannot dispose of his/her “own money” directly and immediately; it is to be administered by the Head of the prison. The prisoners' salary - after deduction of the enforcement fee contribution - is to be credited to the prisoners account: half on the “reserve” and half on the “house money”. The “house money” is available to the inmates for the procurement of material goods (please see question 6) and services in accordance with the provisions of the Austrian Prison Law (StVG). The “reserve” is saved for the release and it serves to provide for care for the first time after release. It is at least partially blocked for other things until the day of release.
Do prisoners have the right to receive money while in custody or are there any restrictions?Generally, inmates are allowed to receive money. If an amount exceeding the seizure exemption limit (level of subsistence) by at least 50% it is paid into the “own money” account, this amount is automatically blocked to collect the enforcement costs and must be reported to the responsible court. The blocked amount then must be released by means of a court order.
Do prisoners have the right to make money transfers without restrictions or are there restrictions on money transfers?The prisoner has the “house money” as well as half of the “reserve” at his/her disposal, for example for payments to dependent relatives, for payments to victims (of the crime) or for payments of debts. On request, inmates can transfer their “own money”, which is viewed as a discount (“Vergünstigung”). The rejection of a request to be able to dispose of one's “own money” in a certain way affects subjective public rights and can therefore be the subject of a complaint that has to be dealt by a decision.
Do prisoners pay the fees provided by the prison facility?In principle, every inmate has to contribute to the costs of the penal system for his or her maintenance (sentenced prisoners and inmates in measure detention). There are special regulations for prisoners on remand, financial offenders and juvenile prisoners. The enforcement fee is calculated for working prisoners and is automatically 75% of the wages.
Do prisoners have the right to shop in the store? How do the prisoners pay for items purchased in the store?Prisoners can purchase food, personal care products and other simple everyday items at their own expense once a week (in a little shop inside the prison or in the form of an ordering system). For sentenced inmates the amount of spending their “house money” is limited, for prisoners on remand there is no limitation. The shopping is organized cashless via the electronic account (IVV-GGV, please see question 1).
In what way is the money being paid after prisoner is released from custody?Upon release, the prisoner must be given all items and money he or she posses. Generally, the inmates get the money personally and in cash (including a payment receipt).