Prevention Measures in European Prisons against COVID-19

Updated on 26 October 2020

General prevention measures

All leaves for prisoners are temporarily suspended. 

Prisoners who are not incarcerated but has been sentenced to prison are denied of entering any prison or remand prison to start serving time if they show symptoms of Covid-19.

Visits to probation offices are to be avoided as far as possible. Contact between a client and a Probation Officer should be conducted over the phone if possible.

Prison visits

All visits from friends and family to prisoners are temporarily cancelled. 

PRISON VISITS DURING THE SECOND WAVE (STARTING OCTOBER 2020)

Sweden closed down all visits during the spring due to Covid-19. Since September 1st we are allowing visits at the open facilities. If everything works out according to plan prisons in all security levels will be open for visits again by November 16. Visitors can only meet their relatives from separate sides of a window. They can see and talk to each other but they are not able to touch.

Activities / compensation

Free calls are still offered nationally but international calls are now half the normal price. In addition to this there are tests ongoing where prisoners can contact their children by using a tablet.

Staff

Travelling in the line of duty (both within the country and abroad) is to be avoided if not absolutely necessary.

The region of Stockholm has recommended its employees working at the Head Quarter or the Region Office to work from home if possible.

General recommendations such as washing your hands often and thoroughly, keeping distance from other people, avoid local transportations etc, including staying at home if you are experiencing any symptoms or have been associated with persons having symptoms or have been confirmed to be infected.  

Communication

We have based the restrictions on the Act on imprisonment (fängelselagen [2010:610]) and the Act on detention (häkteslagen [2010:611]). In for example chapter 7 section 1 in the Act of imprisonment it is regulated that a prisoners visits may be refused if it (1) may jeopardise security in a way that cannot be dealt with by a control measure in accordance with Section 2 or 3, (2) may counteract the prisoner’s adjustment in the community, or (3) may be harmful in some other way for the prisoner or another person.