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 the Dutch prison system, there are different types of prisons/wards that are determined by the level of security: low security, normal security, comprehensive security and extreme security. We experience an increase in the number of detainees who are a member of a criminal organisation. Most of them are placed in prisons with a comprehensive or extreme security level. Because of this, there are not enough prisons/wards in the Netherlands to place all these prisoners separated. When members of rival groups are placed together, there is the possibility of incidents inside the prison that can affect the order and safety (also of prison staff). When allies are placed together, there is the potential risk of continued criminal activities from within detention. We wish to have a greater understanding of how other countries deal with the placement of members of criminal organisations.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
Yes, there are. Spanish Prison Rules (1996) and the General Organic Law (1979), describe three levels of penal sentences: closed units, common and closed prisons and Social Insertion Centers (SIC) or open prisons. The first is for certain criminal typologies such as terrorism, and to individuals who show extreme bad behaviour, and so pose a significant risk to prison staff and other prisoners. As it implies isolation for most of the day, this situation is reviewed every three months. The second, understood as an ordinary regime, includes the majority of the Spanish prison population. In this case, their situation is reviewed every six months. According to the assessments and observations carried out by psycho-social staff, progression is possible. Progression takes place from the first level to the second, and from the second to the third, which is the open regime, and implies the transfer to Social Insertion Centers (SIC). These centers are also prisons and belong to the Spanish General Secretariat of Penitentiary Institutions, in the same way as ordinary prisons. They can also be called open prisons.
What are the factors that determine at which level of security a person is placed?Usually, adaptation to rules and ordinary functioning of the prison. Type of crime, age, previous re-offending, etc, DO NOT determine the level of security. To place individuals in different levels of security depende, specifically, on the violent behaviour that may pose a clear risk for prison staff and/or rest of prison population. Also, certain criminal types, such as terrorism, lead individuals to higher security units.
Is continuing with criminal activity from within detention one of the factors affecting the placement of detainees? If so, how?If that continuing with criminal activity poses a risk to the prison and its security measures, it might lead to place the individual in close units with higher security units.
Can detainees who are members of the same criminal organization be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?On the whole, it is understood that members of the same criminal organization should not live together. Large similar groups are something to be avoided. However, this is not a "one-size-fits-all" perspective. Individuals, and their behaviour, level of commitmment with the group, type of crime and other factos, need to be studied. There will be cases for which inmates can be together (ordinary units), and in other cases, isolation will be necessary, so contact amongst them is much more difficult.
Can detainees who are members of different criminal organizations be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?The same goes for this question. Proselytism and the strengthening of criminal groups need to be avoided in all cases. Does this mean that individuals from different groups can NEVER be placed together? No. Not all criminal groups are similar, and it will also depend on the unit where they live. Ordinary units make it really difficult to avoid mingling individuals. Isolation units are far more different. The consideration of the individual and his/her circumstances are the key element when deciding placement and actions to be carried out in terms of security and treatment.
Closed prisons have a secure perimeter and a range of internal security measures. For adult men, they are sub-divided into: Category C prisons, providing a level of physical and procedural security capable of safely and securely managing the majority of men; and Category B prisons, providing additional physical and procedural security suitable for managing those identified as presenting a greater level of risk. For young adults (age 18-20), closed prisons are not sub-divided but individual prisons may be designated as suitable for holding individuals presenting higher risks. Open prisons have minimal perimeter and physical security features and are for those who are specifically assessed as suitable for conditions of low security.
What are the factors that determine at which level of security a person is placed?The factors a prisoner will have assessed when deciding their security category are their risk of escape or abscond, harm to the public, ongoing criminality in custody, violent or other behaviour that impacts the safety of those within the prison, and control issues that disrupt the security and good order of the prison. The security categorisation assessment is a holistic process, so different factors may be relevant depending on the nature of their offence and custodial behaviour. A range of information, such as sentence length and possible further charges will be considered to assess the above factors.
Is continuing with criminal activity from within detention one of the factors affecting the placement of detainees? If so, how?Yes, the risk of continuation of criminal activity within prison is one of the factors that will be considered in the categorisation risk assessment. The specific risks will be considered by the Prison Offender Manager on a case-by-case basis.
Can detainees who are members of the same criminal organization be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?Prisoners are first allocated to prisons according to what court they appear at, when they are received into prison custody, the cell allocation is a local process, they will use the Cell Sharing Risk Assessment process to keep prisoners safe, it is only necessary to keep prisoners apart if there is intelligence to suggest being together may be an issue; often the police do make detention requests, but population and available spaces do have an impact on our ability to meet these requests, it is however, usual practice for us to keep prisoners on separate wings/units if necessary. We are encouraging prisons to use local heatmaps to manage their population of OCGNs, it may be useful to keep them together for operational reasons or we may need to keep them apart.
Can detainees who are members of different criminal organizations be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?The above answer covers this question to, in the prisons that are heavily populated with Gangs, it is a local process to keep gangs apart where possible for the good order or discipline of the prison, in addition to personal safety and safeguarding.
Yes there are three different levels in Swedish prisons. Level 1 is the highest and level 3 is the lowest.
What are the factors that determine at which level of security a person is placed?Several different factors determine where the placement will be. Among those are addiction, type of crime, how long the sentences is, relations to criminal organizations or networks and how the persons behavior (were there any incidents etc.) was during previous placements.
Is continuing with criminal activity from within detention one of the factors affecting the placement of detainees? If so, how?This is something we always aim to avoid happing when we make the initial decision of placement. However, if someone would continue with criminal activity during a placement it could absolutely affect the current placement and a placement in a prison of higher level of security would be relevant.
Can detainees who are members of the same criminal organization be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?We always do an individual assessment of the circumstances surrounding the person in question. Depending on those results, we can decide if the person should be placed with other members of the same criminal organization. But this is something that we would like to avoid if we can.
Can detainees who are members of different criminal organizations be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?Before we make a decision on where to place these people, we make an individual assessment. Based on that we can then decide to place them where it is most appropriate.
Belgian prisons are divided into high, medium and low security levels. In the same prison, different security levels can also coexist: high and medium.
What are the factors that determine at which level of security a person is placed?Criminal history, facts, in-custody behavior, prison history, protective factors such as pro-social network, an assessment of the risk of escape as well as the risk of recidivism in case of escape. The media aspect can also be taken into account in the assessment.
Is continuing with criminal activity from within detention one of the factors affecting the placement of detainees? If so, how?Indeed, he could be transferred to a higher security prison or put under special security measures. This means that the detention regime may be limited to prevent criminal activity.
Can detainees who are members of the same criminal organization be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?We try to avoid it but it is not always possible. It also happens that they are in the same prison but they are still separated.
Can detainees who are members of different criminal organizations be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?? We try to avoid it but it is not always possible. It also happens that they are in the same prison but still separated. It is always a case by case evaluation based also on the information we receive from our security partners such as the police, possibly the state security...
Yes. There is a unit for inmates requiring enhanced supervision.
What are the factors that determine at which level of security a person is placed?The circumstances of the committed crime (e.g. convicted of organized crime, the person's role in committing the crime). A social network with the criminal world.
Is continuing with criminal activity from within detention one of the factors affecting the placement of detainees? If so, how?Yes. The need for strengthened supervision. Placing an inmate in a unit where we have stronger control over his interactions.
Can detainees who are members of the same criminal organization be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?We do not place such detainees together in one chamber. They are generally banned from communicating with each other as ordered by the prosecutor's office. They are not placed together so that they cannot affect each other or the course of proceedings.
Can detainees who are members of different criminal organizations be placed together within detention? If so, why? If not, why not?Convicts may be placed together. It is not forbidden, but if possible they are kept as separate as possible.
This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.