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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: The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is currently in the process of developing a Digital Strategy for in-cell telephony to improve contact with those held in custodial care in Scottish prisons. As well as allowing people in custody to make external calls to family and friends, it will also provide technology which will allow a range of services to be delivered electronically in-cell. As part of its Equality and Diversity Impact Assessment, SPS is considering how this might affect people with a hearing impairment or other accessibility issues. SPS wishes to understand how other jurisdictions are managing access to in-cell technology for those with hearing impairments or other accessibility issues which would affect their use of in-cell telephony. SPS would be grateful for a response to the following questions:
No, currently we are in the process of instaling these telephones and it is expecte that by the end of the current year the majority of Portuguese prisons will have this device.
If so, what, if any, kind of alternatives or adjustments have you made for deaf people in custody or others with accessibility issues for whom a telephone is not suitable or useable?No, currently we are in the process of instaling these telephones and it is expecte that by the end of the current year the majority of Portuguese prisons will have this device.
If so, what, if any, kind of alternatives or adjustments have you made for deaf people in custody or others with accessibility issues for whom a telephone is not suitable or useable?In ordinary prisons, public phones are available, not inside the cells but in common areas. In open-prisons, mobile phones are fully allowed.
If so, what, if any, kind of alternatives or adjustments have you made for deaf people in custody or others with accessibility issues for whom a telephone is not suitable or useable?As far as deaf people cannot make use of telephone, we try to promote medical adjustments to improve their hearing, promoting at the same time family visits and signage in order to avoid their isolation from the rest of prison population.
All cells in prisons in Slovakia (except for a few selected ones in units with a security regime, where it is not, given the character of the prison, desirable to have a telephone device installed directly in the cell, not even the “antivandal” ones) are equipped with “telephone devices – in-cell telephones” so that prisoners’ right to make telephone calls and have contact with the outside world is respected.
If so, what, if any, kind of alternatives or adjustments have you made for deaf people in custody or others with accessibility issues for whom a telephone is not suitable or useable?These “telephone devices – in-cell telephones” have not been adjusted in any special way for deaf prisoners or other prisoners with similar disabilities. The only adjustment has been made for prisoners with lower limb mobility impairment in the case of whom selected cells (cells for prisoners with mobility impairments) have the cell telephones installed at such height that these disabled prisoners can reach them (see point 3.2 for details). After initial piloting in two prisons, the Corps of Prison and Court Guard is currently finally implementing “telephone devices – video kiosks” that enable prisoners to make video calls (see point 3.3 for details). These video kiosks can transmit both audio and video, thus enabling the deaf to communicate as well since the transmission of images (video) is a prerequisite for sign language communication. However, for security and tactical reasons, these devices are not installed within the cells but are positioned in the corridors of the units or in separate rooms designated for this purpose. Below, we are providing selected information obtained from the “Technical Specifications Description” related to the above-mentioned telephone devices that can be disclosed given the level of confidentiality. 3.2. Telephone devices – in-cell telephones Possible location: Cells Installation: Wall mounting at average standing person’s height or below to facilitate accessibility to a disabled person Functions, components, security: • making calls (voice communication, IVR - interactive voice response) • keypad, receiver, login through the barcode number of the identification card and the prisoner’s unique PIN code (PIN code is generated through voice menu on the corridor machines without the intervention of the prison staff) • possibility of automatic assignment of the device to the prisoner • dismounting of the device through safety screws • the cable connection of the device is secured against being pulled out of the wall 3.3 Telephone device – video kiosk Possible location: Corridors Installation: Wall mounting at average standing person’s height or below to facilitate accessibility to a disabled person; possible to place it horizontally (e.g. on a table using a safety bracket) Functions, components, security: • making calls by transmitting both audio and video or audio only – possibility to select the option (voice communication, IVR - interactive voice response, general information about the call displayed on the screen at the same time) • operation through touch screen (security glass), receiver, login through the barcode number of the identification card and the prisoner’s unique PIN code (double identification) • the resolution of the display unit corresponds to the specified minimum (1280x1024 (SXGA)) • possibility to blur the background behind the prisoner • viewing angle of the screen 120 degrees horizontally and 120 degrees vertically • color display ability – 16,7 mil. • increased resistance of the display unit to mechanical damage • IP55 protection class • display size from 17 inches (it is also possible to deliver a smaller version if the Corps of Prison and Court Guard is interested in it for security or space reasons).
No wired phones. There are however portable phones that can be used in cell (whitelisted calls only)
If so, what, if any, kind of alternatives or adjustments have you made for deaf people in custody or others with accessibility issues for whom a telephone is not suitable or useable?For the deaf and people with other dissabilites there is a possibility, under certain circumstanses, to get in touch with family/close relations via video connection (under staff surveillance).
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This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.
In prisons of the Republic of Latvia, landline/stationary telephones (including payphones) are used to make outgoing calls; these telephones may be used only for a conversation over the telephone network (a telephone conversation). It should be noted, however, that the above-mentioned telephones are located in prison hallways, common areas or specially designated rooms. In prisons of the Republic of Latvia, landline telephones (including payphones) are not installed in prisoners' cells.
If so, what, if any, kind of alternatives or adjustments have you made for deaf people in custody or others with accessibility issues for whom a telephone is not suitable or useable?Normative acts in the prisons of the Republic of Latvia provide for the right - for partially-deaf and deaf prisoners - video communication (Skype software is used in the prisons of the Republic of Latvia). It should be mentioned that the frequency of video communication for convicts and detainees (partially-deaf and deaf) differs. In particular, for the partially-deaf and deaf convicts, video communication with relatives, spouse and other persons is provided without the presence of a representative of the detention facility, without any limitation on the number of times, for a period of up to 30 minutes. Video communication with relatives, spouse or other persons shall be provided to deaf and partially-deaf detainees in the presence of a representative of the remand prison administration twice a month for up to 30 minutes. In addition, a pilot project with a new telecommunication service - telephone call with (video call function) was implemented in two prisons in the Republic of Latvia, in 2022 and 2023, which provided telephone call (with video call function) in addition to the rights of convicts (located in closed and partly-closed prisons) provided for in the – Sentence Execution Code of Latvia. In summary, partially-deaf and deaf prisoners in prisons of the Republic of Latvia have the possibility to communicate with their relatives, spouse or other persons, as the video call (picture with sound) is used. In this way, deaf and partially-deaf prisoners can promote socially positive, useful contacts and strengthen or renew their family ties.
Yes
If so, what, if any, kind of alternatives or adjustments have you made for deaf people in custody or others with accessibility issues for whom a telephone is not suitable or useable?We don’t have any adjustments for this category of people at the moment.
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This content is only available to registered members of EuroPris.