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In the table of recommendations and practices below, each Article of the Council of Europe Recommendation 2012 (12) on Foreign Prisoners is included. For each of these Articles, information is collected from European Prison Services giving inspiration to its members and providing practices that support the implementation of the Recommendation. The table also contains references to the practice being a national, local or regional initiative, the legal basis and budget sources.
The table can be searched by country and by Article of the Recommendation.
Countries that are not yet included are invited to submit their data and send them to secretariat@europris.org.
Prisoners have the right to ask to serve their sentence in their home country at any time during the sentence. Prison staff collate the necessary information and transmit it to the Ministry of Justice, who forward it to the relevant national competent authority who decide the application.
merike.tartu@just.ee
Foreign National Prisoners Picture Dictionary – ‘Picture it in Prison’.
Difficulties stemming from a prisoner’s ability to speak the primary language of their prison is an obstacle in most prisons holding foreign prisoners and immigration detainees.
A pocket-size booklet ‘Picture it in Prison’ has been developed for foreign national prisoners and prison staff to overcome such language obstacles. The booklet consists of over 450 pictures which are classified per theme and translations of sixty basic words and sentences in twenty frequently spoken languages in prison. These languages are: English, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, French, Russian, German, Turkish, Romanian, Italian, Dutch, Albanese, Greek, Japanese, Swedish, Swahili, Persian, Hindi and Polish.
Contact Prison Watch via prisonwatch@prisonwatch.org for more information and a download of the copyright version of the booklet. The booklet (72 pages) can be ordered via prisonwatch@prisonwatch.org for € 6 (excluding 6% VAT and postal costs). For large orders (over 2.000) it is possible to add the logo of the prison service / organisation on the reverse side of the cover.
We always offer information in their language and always an interpreter when needed to explain legal rights and any step in the legal process.
National and local
We always offer information in their language and always an interpreter when needed to explain legal rights and any step in the legal process.
National and local
We always use interpreters where necessary
National and local
International Office of The Netherlands Probation Service, Bureau Buitenland.
Dutch Probation Agency working with Dutch nationals imprisoned abroad.
National
Statutory agency.
General e-mail: buitenland@reclassering.nl Foreign Desk e-mail: buitenlandbalie@reclassering.nl http://www.reclassering.nl/buitenland/bureau-buitenland
The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas
The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas provides information, support and advice to Irish prisoners overseas and their families.
National
Charity
www.icpo.ie icpo@iecon.ie
Italian Prisoners Abroad
Works with Italian nationals imprisoned abroad. Offers support to prisoners and their families by giving them information and useful contacts. Makes in loco visits when possible (especially in Europe) and helps the offender in the phase of re-entry in Italy.
National
Charity with statutory support
info@act-bs.it
Fudacionmas 34
Works with Spanish nationals imprisoned abroad and their families in Spain. Uses volunteers extensively.
Works particularly with Spanish prisoners in South America
National
Charity
ayuda@fundacionmas34.org & voluntariado@fundacionmas34.org
‘Movimiento por la Paz’.
Established group working with Spanish Consulates and other institutions. Offers advice and general information to Spanish prisoners abroad. Advises prisoners on their rights, & provides information on prison transfer applications, post sentence.
Can advise and support families in Spain who have family members imprisoned abroad.
National
Charity
mpdl@mpdl.org
Asociación Hispano Árabe para el Desarro’, support for Moroccan prisoners;
Established by Rachid Ismaili. Asociación Hispano Árabe para el Desarro, focuses on the cultural interests of the Moroccan community in Madrid. Since 2015 their volunteers from has been visiting Moroccan prisoners in the Madrid V11 prison. Initially their focus was on music and calligraphy but volunteers have been able to help with translation and more general support where appropriate. Also provides information, advice and support to families of Moroccan prisoners.
National though primarily in Madrid
Charity though since 2015 receiving funding from Moroccan government.
Contact Rachid Ismaili http://www.ahadc.org/index.html
Hibiscus Initiatives;
A UK charity working with refugee migrant women serving a custodial sentence, released into the UK or returned to their home country. Specialist knowledge of women prisoners from the Caribbean, West Africa and Eastern Europe.
National
Charity
info@hibiscusinitiatives.org.uk
Prisoners Abroad, UK charity caring for the welfare of British citizens held in foreign prisons
National
Supported by UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and charitable donations.
info@prisonersabroad.org.uk
Deutsches Sozialwerch in Frankreich
Works with German nationals imprisoned in France.
National
Charity
info@entraide-allemande.org
Skype or video conferencing is used to communicate with relatives and friends in home countries.
National
t.bagchus@dji.minjus.nl
European Groups providing services for their nationals imprisoned abroad:
There are a small number of groups in Europe providing services for their nationals imprisoned in prisons in and outside Europe. See list ‘European Groups working with prisoners abroad’.
These groups can be statutory, such as the Dutch
Reclassering Nederland, Bureau Buitenland, supported through a combination of government and charitable grants such as Prisoners Abroad (UK), The Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) and Italian Prisoners Abroad (IPA). These 4 groups above are members of the EuroPris/CEP Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation Expert Group.
National
All groups have their different criteria for initial & on-going contact with prisoners.
See attachment; ‘5 22 1 a European Groups working prisoners abroad Jan2017’. For information about the EuroPris/CEP Foreign Nationals in Prison & Probation Expert Group; https://www.europris.org/expert-groups/foreign-nationals-in-prison/ and http://www.cep-probation.org/foreign-national-prisoners/
from HMP Huntercombe
‘Prisoner Voicemail’, private provider funded by prisoners’ family, no direct cost to prisoners or prison. Contributes to maintenance of family contact.
National
Free-private provider
Mark.James.Hatch@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
All prisoners including foreigners, have the right to use the phone and call family members and others. There is also the possibility to call abroad.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
They offer apartments or rooms for visits inside our prisons and we give the foreign prisoners priority to use these when needed för family travelling far we also give them extra time.
Local
Prison enables longer than the 24-hour long-time visits for prisoners whose loved ones are living in another country, and visiting is expensive and / or time-consuming.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
HMP Huntercombe
Day-long family visits arranged for foreign prisoners so that they can spend a full day with family members who have travelled long distances, including from overseas, to visit. They can eat together, and support is provided to facilitate children in activities with their parents.
Local
Minimal
Phil Goulalos at HMP Huntercombe.
They work hard with the children’s rights to their parents and always with consideration to what is the best for the child/children.
National and local
Stina.sjodin@kriminalvarden.se
Each prisoner is given a prison contact person. Prison will also have contact information about a prisoner’s family members. Where appropriate, the prison contact person will communicate with the prisoner’s family members. It is also possible for family members to contact the prison contact person when it is necessary to inform the prisoner about extraordinary occasions (i.e. death of a family member, serous health matters).
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
‘Prison Voice Project’ at Huntercombe Prison;
2 initiatives to maintain family contacts,
(1) using a private provider, Prison Voicemail, to facilitate prisoner’s families leaving ‘Voicemail’ messages’ for foreign prisoners from callers abroad. Assist to family contacts being maintained.
(2) Full-Day visits permitted for families of foreign prisoners given their especially long, often international, journeys to attend. Meals taken together normalizing visits as far as practical.
Local Initiative agreed nationally. Plans to rollout nationally
No costs to prison or prisoners.
Further Information from; https://prisonvoicemail.com/prisons kieran@prisonvoicemail.com or contact Mark.James.Hatch@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
All detainees including foreigners, have the opportunity to subscribe to newspapers and journals (except for prohibited content). Newspapers and magazines can be in prisoner’s mother tongue.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
Prisoners can watch Estonian, Russian, and German-language channels on television
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
Prisoners can watch Estonian, Russian, and German-language channels on television
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
Foreign detainees always have the possibility to ask for contact information of their embassy from their contact person or any prison officer. Representatives of the embassy can come to prison to have a visit with the prisoner.
merike.tartu@just.ee
Flemish Prisons;
The information about the activities is given in Dutch, French and English. We work with as many images as possible, so that foreign prisoners can understand the information.
Local Initiative in Flemish Prisons
Roselien Vermeulen (OO): Roselien.Vermeulen@cawcentraalwestvlaanderen.be, Delphine Vanhaelemeesch (BC): delphine.vanhaelemeesch@wvg.vlaanderen.be
3 programmes initiatives in different languages;
(i) “TENT UT!(Think Outside)”, is a program using reflection-cards to prompt and encourage self-reflection and group discussion on choices and outcomes. Pictorial cards with discussion in English, 7 groups undertaken program in past 2 years, (5 for men & 2 for women). Very good response from both target-groups.
(ii) NSAP (National Substance Abuse Program), delivered in Women’s wing, twice in 2017, program in English. Low-intensity and individualized version trailed twice.
(iii) “Penga og livet (Money and life)”, everyday financial management course devised by Norwegian Employment & Social Security Service & Red Cross, in 4 languages, English version planned to be piloted in Women’s wing Spring 2018.
Need for additional programs in languages other than Norwegian being addressed.
Specific to Kongsvinger (Foreign National-only) Prison
Cost unknown
Furthur information: Kristin Opaas Haugli, Reintegration coordinator / Adviser Kristin.Opaas.Haugli@kriminalomsorg.no Ploeg Gerhard (KDI) Gerhard.Ploeg@kriminalomsorg.no
Initiative of cross-sectional prison working group to increase general level of activities for FPs. Improved collaboration between Education & Work Departments. Using ‘Norwegian Import Model’, innovation use of resources including staffs skills and knowledge, leading to; ‘Log Cabin’ a quilt making group, a yoga course, a ukulele course, music concerts etc.
Furthur information: Kristin Opaas Haugli, Reintegration coordinator / Adviser Kristin.Opaas.Haugli@kriminalomsorg.no Ploeg Gerhard (KDI) Gerhard.Ploeg@kriminalomsorg.no
Flemish Prisons;
Activities are open for all prisoners.
Local Initiative in Flemish Prisons
Delphine Vanhaelemeesch (BC): delphine.vanhaelemeesch@wvg.vlaanderen.be
Detainee Center: 01.01.2014-30.06.2015 Project TPF2013-4 “Forced expulsion of implementation VI” in relation to a detention center began to acquire a variety of resources leisure purposes. Project was co-funded by the EU Return Fund and the Ministry of the Interior.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
All free-time activities are allowed and provided for foreign detainees who wish to take part.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
2015 Report on Nyborg Prison’s Departure/Deportation Wards (Units). This report, in English, looks at the two Departure Sections of Nyborg Prison which has a capacity of up to 28 men. This comprehensive Report includes sections on;
Prison specific report
Not relevant
Further Information from Project Officer Tina Isling, Project Owner Annette Esdorf or from Henrik.Marker@kriminalforsorgen.dk
Flemish Prisons;
Inside the prison, foreign prisoners have access to work and vocational training.
Local Initiative in Flemish Prisons
Liesbeth De Wit (OC): liesbeth.de.wit@vocvo.be
All detainees including foreigners, are able to work in the prison for which they receive payment.
Detainees with little or no knowledge of Estonian are will be directed to Estonian language courses. Inmates are involved in social programs, also conducted in Russian.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
2015 Report on Nyborg Prison’s Departure/Deportation Wards (Units). This report, in English, looks at the two Departure Sections of Nyborg Prison which has a capacity of up to 28 men. This comprehensive Report includes sections on;
Prison specific report
Further Information from Project Officer Tina Isling, Project Oowner Annette Esdorf or from Henrik.Marker@kriminalforsorgen.dk
Ypes Prison;
Nobody is excluded for the organised exercises and activities (except when the Dutch language is needed f.e. in group therapy sessions).
Some activities are organised to promote culture and different backgrounds. In 2015, we organised a ‘multicultural week’. The prisoners were introduced each day of the week in a different culture or region of the world, such as Arabic calligraphy (Middle East), Filigrana (South America) and Djembe (African). In sports, they were introduced to Sepak Takraw (a traditional ball game from Asia) and basketball (a typical North American sport). The food of the prisoners was adapted to the region of the activity.
Local Initiative Ypres Prison
Local Relief fund (steunfonds), CDRGA
Roselien Vermeulen (OO): Roselien.Vermeulen@cawcentraalwestvlaanderen.be, Delphine Vanhaelemeesch (BC): delphine.vanhaelemeesch@wvg.vlaanderen.be
If possible, same nationality prisoners are detained in the same cell. A foreign prisoner has an opportunity to express the desire to be in a cell with compatriots or Estonians (eg person participates in language courses and would like to practice the Estonian language). If possible, they shall be taken into account and made to meet their wish for placements.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
West Flanders;
The foreign prisoners are encouraged to learn a language that allows them to communicate. In prison, there is weekly an open learning centre organised by the adult basic education centre (CENTRUM BASISEDUCATIE). They work individual and on tempo of the learner. They learn to read, to write or/and to speak a language. Every month, a group lesson is organised. Since the beginning of 2016, three courses were especially for foreign prisoners to learn ‘Dutch in prison’.
National; CBE
Province West-Flanders, CBE, VOCVO
Liesbeth De Wit (OC): liesbeth.de.wit@vocvo.be
All foreign prisoners can apply for language studies. Swedish Tuition for Immigrants is advanced language instruction aiming to give adult immigrants basic knowledge of the Swedish language. Students with a mother tongue other than Swedish should in the education learn and develop a functioning second language. The education should provide language tools for communication and active participation in daily, societal and working life.
The education also aims at giving adult immigrants who lack basic reading and
writing skills the opportunity of acquiring such skills. A student who is not functionally literate,
or has a writing system that differs from the Latin alphabet, should receive instruction in reading
and writing within the framework of the education.
The education is intended for persons with different experiences, life situations, knowledge and study goals.
The education should be planned and organized together with students and adapted
to their interests, experiences, all-round knowledge and long-term goals.
The education should take as its starting point the needs of the individual, be capable of
combining with employment or other activities such as orientation to working life, validation,
work practice or other forms of education. It must be flexibly designed in terms of time, place,
content and working forms to enable students to take part.
Goal and nature of the education
The goal of Swedish Tuition for Immigrants is that students should develop:
Swedish Tuition for Immigrants aims to provide students with communicative language skills.
This means being able to communicate, both orally and in writing, based on their needs.
Students must acquire knowledge and skills of different kinds to be able to make relevant
language choices in relation to the current communicative situation. Communicative language
skills cover different competences that interact and supplement each other. Communicative
language skills thus presuppose both access to a language system and knowledge of how this
system is used. Knowledge of the language system covers words, phrases, pronunciation and
grammatical structures, whilst knowledge about the use of language deals with how a text is
built up, making choices over functional language, and adaptation in relation to recipient and
purpose. An important competence is also being able to use strategies in the most effective way
to communicate the message.
In Swedish Tuition for Immigrants, students should develop their awareness of the process of
learning a language and insights into their own learning. Students should also develop their
intercultural competence by reflecting over their own cultural experiences, and comparing these
with phenomena in daily, societal and working life in Sweden.
In Swedish Tuition for Immigrants, students should develop their competence in using different
digital tools and aids for information, communication and learning.
All prisoners can also apply for courses
National
Tommy.Nyman@kriminalvarden.se
The main languages used in Estonian prisons are Estonian and Russian. Detainees have the opportunity to learn Estonian.
Datinee Center: 01.07.2015-30.06.2018, is a project called AMIF2015-17 “Counseling and interest in the activities of the detention center.” was carried out. In this project, 6 English and 6 Estonian language courses were organized. Resources and activities are co-financed by the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Ministry of the Interior Ministry.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
Europe: Belgium Lead Foriner Project;
EU Funded Project to study innovative methods of distance learning for European Prisoners in European prisons, looking especially at IT lead initiatives.
European
EU funded project under Erasmus + Programme Ended January 2018
www.foriner.eu foriner@vovco.be
In the prison library, the collection contains books in foreign languages (narratives but also textbooks). The prisoners can also loan books from the city library, where the collection is wider.
Local Initiative Ypres Prison
Province West-Flanders & city Ypres
Luc Vermeersch (Bib): vermeerschconix@hotmail.com Tine Van Laeken (CF): tine.vanlaeken@derodeantraciet.be
The prison library has books available in both Estonian and in Russian.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
All prisons and remand prisons have a library with a wide range of literature and it is also possible to order literature in the language that is needed.
National and local
Lars.hakan.nilsson@kriminalvarden.se
Bucharest Jilava Prison; The prison has arranged a multi-faith room, where prisoners can go to according to a schedule of faith activities and worship and for individual spiritual meditation.
Local, Bucharest Jilava Prison
From prison budget
andreea.cana@anp.gov.ro
Chaplains of various religions are represented in prisons and detainees are guaranteed religious freedom to worship.
National
merike.tartu@just.ee
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
All their immigration detention centres are equipped with a Medical Unit. One or more colleague General Practitioners comes to the centre regularly, to have consultations open to each resident. There are also nurses and a psychologist. In some centres, there is also a psychological assistant.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
All prisoners in the SPPS have the same right to healthcare and we do not make differences between FNP´s or Swedish prisoners.
National
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
When a specific health problem seems to be the case, then the general practitioner refers his patient to a specialist in a hospital or to a private specialist. Afterwards, he/she can either start an adapted treatment for his patient in the centre, and/or he/she can decide that there’s one or more follow-up specialist appointments needed.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
Room established in male high-security wing for ‘stimulating the senses and their multi-sensory perception’.
Similar facility, termed ‘relaxing room, created in Women’s wing.
Specific to Kongsvinger (Foreign National-only) Prison
Furthur information: Kristin Opaas Haugli, Reintegration coordinator / Adviser Kristin.Opaas.Haugli@kriminalomsorg.no Ploeg Gerhard (KDI) Gerhard.Ploeg@kriminalomsorg.no
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
All medical and health care staff are offered specific training.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
Preference is to use professional interpreters, although there’s not always the ability to do so.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
In the few centres where there’s female foreign prisoners, we try to have at least one female general practitioner.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
Our mental health care providers in the centre are offered different trainings in intercultural counselling, culture specific psychosis etc.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
Our staff knows how to observe specific symptoms of self-harming or suicidal behaviour. Once they observe this, and after multidisciplinary discussion, this person gets labelled ‘Extra Care’. There’s also special information sheets to inform staff how to deal with this specific problems.
Evidently, these persons are followed up by the psychological assistant and/or the psychologist and/or the general practitioner.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
This is taken in consideration (see also special needs and extra care – supra preamble)
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
The continuation of treatment is normally foreseen for those residents that are indicated as ‘vulnerable’ by the mental health care staff and the medical staff.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – geert.verbauwhede@ibz.fgov.be + Louise N’Gandu – louise.ngandu@ibz.fgov.be
example from Croatian Penitentiary in Požega, Department for Women;
Example of a Slovakia prisoner in a Croatian Prison of the issues she faced and how the institution addressed them.
Local
Local initiative.
Further information Smiljka.Barancek@uzs.pravosudje.hr
Dubrovnik Prison Foreign Prisoner Policy Summary;
Overview of the management of foreign prisoners at Dubrovnik Prison where they have 58 foreign prisoners in a 2015 review. Summary of their assessment, allocation and management during their imprisonment.
Local policy
Smiljka.Barancek@uzs.pravosudje.hr