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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 [email protected].
Belgium: note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Special needs project for immigration detainees: when a person with a certain vulnerability is detected in the detention centers (through the above-mentioned extra care project), In prisons or psychiatric centers (through the psychosocial or medical services) or in the return houses for families (through the migration counsellors), then a request for assistance can be sent to the special needs project workers. These requests can consist of the following means of support:
1. Availability of medication/treatment in country of origin
2. Purchase of medication for period after return
3. Admission in psychiatric facility in Belgium to stabilize the psychiatric condition
4. Accompaniment during flight
5. Medical, psychosocial, administrative follow-up, family tracing for support after return in the country of origin
The kind of support provided depends on the condition of the returnee and the possibilities in the country of origin. Belgium is paying for the support during a transitional period, to allow the returnee to get his life back on track (maximum 1 year). Economical support and cash money are NOT given to keep the programs on voluntary return more interesting. For prisoners, this project is especially aimed to organize reintegration (especially psychiatric care and family tracing) in the country of origin, with the aim to fulfill the conditions which are set by the Justice-commissions, who must decide on the release of psychiatric patients who were considered not to be accountable for their crimes.
National
National budget (mostly return budget)
Isabelle VERVLOESEM T: 003227938212 M: [email protected]
All foreign prisoners can apply for language studies. Usually they start with education in Swedish for immigrants. You get a basic knowledge of the Swedish language. You learn to speak, read and write in Swedish and must practice using the language in everyday and working life.
After completing the course, you get scores. Some prisoner usually with shorter time in prison can choose to study English
National
Legal
[email protected]
Whenever necessary interpretation and translation via telephone is provided.
National
[email protected]
Foreign prisoners are evaluated using a specific methodology to assess whether expulsion is justified or not. Estonian Ministry of Justice has developed this methodology based on European Court of Human Rights recognized criteria. It is obtained by evaluating positive and negative aspects which provides a final assessment with a score. The methodology is outlined in the following circumstances, which is assessed by whether:
National
[email protected]
Meetings which including training, are held between relevant authorities such as Prisons, Police and Boarder Guard Board, Ministry of Justice and foreign prisoner coordinators, several times in a year.
National
[email protected]
Staff are provided with additional training in intercultural communication and with additional language training (English, and Spanish)
National
[email protected]
HM Prison & Probation Service;
Guidance has been produced for court report writers to enable Courts to be made aware of the possibility of foreign offenders being able to undertake non-custodial sentences. Sentence Planning Guidance, which focus on gaining compliance as well as long term resettlement needs has been made available to all National Probation staff via the NPS Intranet, and on EQuiP. EQuiP is designed as a process guide for staff for all areas of the business, and where overlaps occur e.g with Court, links are made to that area. The Foreign National Offender section of EQuiP was published on the 4th April 2016.
National
National Professional guidance No budgetary impact assessment
[email protected]
note – this entry refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Office has created information brochures in 7 languages about the rights and obligations linked to immigration status (procedures, appeals, consequences of irregular staying). These are given to detainees on admission and if necessary, during the visit of immigration staff to prison. Immigration staff will also give information during their visit (ad hoc, or at request), if necessary with an interpreter. The immigration staff member will also fill out a form “Right to Heard” with the migrant (in +/- 15 languages), which gives them the opportunity to declare whether there are reasons why they could not be removed to their country of origin (Art. 42 European Fundamental Rights Treaty)
National initiative
National budget
Geert Verbauwhede – [email protected] + Maryvonne Jacquemin – [email protected]
Communication with non-native speaking prisoners: Design pictures and icons to provide a visual image of rules and/or procedures.
Within its population, the prison of Antwerp has around 58 different nationalities. Though not easy, they aim to communicate effectively and clearly with them. Especially, when not all detainees are able to speak either Dutch, German, French or English. About 25% of their prison population cannot communicate without the intervention of an interpreter – provided an interpreter is available.
In addition to problems of oral communication they have also identified that many prisoners have illiteracy problems. As a result, a lot of written communication (e.g. the brochure for incoming prisoners, teletext, …) is lost even though the information is broadcasted in different languages. Communication can end up in frustration, for both staff & detainees. This consequently, does not contribute to better work or living conditions.
Effective and clear communication is required in prison where the daily operation is restrained by strict procedures and rules, to which detainees have to comply. It is, therefore, of utmost importance that all detainees understand these rules and procedures, both from a human and from a security perspective.
All this has led to the idea of designing pictures and icons to provide a visual image of rules and/or procedures. The prison personnel can thus point out a picture/icon to a detainee, who cannot communicate in the most common languages, to make clear what is expected. These tools can be used to support all oral and written communication.
The development of these pictures and icons (that are free of any cultural interpretation) fits into a broader process of interculturalizing the reception policy within the prison. This project was launched in 2008 in collaboration with ‘Het Antwerps Minderhedencentrum De8 VZW[1] (the Antwerp Minorities Centre De 8 vzw), the Flemish Government and CAW Antwerpen.
Thanks to funding of the Department of Justice, they were able to start looking for a graphic artist or design agency to turn oral and written communication into visual content in the beginning of 2008.
Today, they still experience it as a great success. Both detainees and staff benefit from this project. Today, this ‘visual’ communication is extended through the overall communication with detainees: using the same symbolism and same style.
Overview:
Several instruments were developed in collaboration with a design agency:
• Posters:
1. the access procedure to prison for visitors
2. approved items at entry of the prison
3. prohibited items at entry of the prison
4. The lease arrangements in the library
5. The lending policy from the library
6. The rules regarding sports
7. The procedure regarding the use of the telephones
8. The rules regarding clothing dispensation
9. An overview of the various sizes of clothing
10. A week overview of the various activities for each section
11. Procedure regarding swapping broken cutlery
• Comics:
1. Description of the procedure for sports,
2. The procedure regarding a phone application,
3. The procedure to request a TV,
4. The attire requirements for different activities,
5. The law on temporary custody
• Icons: the design of 25 icons, which visualize a service or services (eg doctor, walk, PSD, etc).
• booklets:
The development of the ‘Image’ booklet helps staff communicate with foreign detainees. This booklet contains pictures or icons that show certain actions, such as “Today you have to clean the cell,” “you are not allowed to hand anything onto the cell window,” and other actions. These booklets were printed in pocket size to be easily stowed in the front pocket of uniform shirts.
Local initiative of Antwerp Prison. Apart from the prison of Antwerp, both the prison of Beveren and Mechelen were interested in using the same images in their communication with detainees.
Legal Basis: Basic Law on the prison system and the legal status of the detainees: in relation to avoiding detention damage Budgetary issues: Costs of graphic artist
Management team of the Prison of Antwerp, Begijnenstraat 42, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Nested information on the section for incoming detainees (4th Section)
The admission and supply of information of incoming detainees is one of the core businesses in a prison like Antwerp, where people are detained before trial.
Upon arrival, the detainee is faced with numerous physical actions within the admission procedure into our prison. First, the detainee must go through the administrative steps of the registration process. They are assigned to a cell after undergoing a body search. Within the first 24 hours of detention the detainee must be seen by many departments (e.g. prison director, medical examination, fingerprinting, a consultation with the psycho-social service, detention counselor, an extraction by the police, …) Consequently, the detainee is overwhelmed with information and questions by these different departments. Thus, to an incoming detainee it often is a quest to have the correct information at their disposal.
To the management, it became clear that spreading incoming detainees over the overall prison resulted in a severe work load due to their many questions. In addition, a significant percentage of incoming detainees (over 60%) are imprisoned for the first time in their life. Therefore, special care and attention is needed when explaining the rules and organization of the prison. A great number of these detainees are released within the first 5 days or meet a specific modality of criminal execution. The work load, consequently, elevates when ‘short stay’ detainees must go through all these steps.
It was decided to develop a project of ‘nested information’ parallel to the CAT project. In practical terms this means that one section was set up specifically for incoming detainees. As a result, we could deal with the questions, requirements and necessities of first time detainees. These detainees will later be transferred to another section when the arrest warrant is confirmed. Exceptions may be made when necessary but only in consultation with the prison director.
Local initiative of Antwerp Prison
Legal Basis: Basic Law on the prison system and the legal status of the detainees): in relation to avoiding detention damage Budgetary issues: none
Management team of the Prison of Antwerp, Begijnenstraat 42, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
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
Prison Rules are provided in Russian language or in English, as well as the Imprisonment Act and other relevant legislation.
National
[email protected]
Prison rules are available in 7 languages
National and local
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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.
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 [email protected] for more information and a download of the copyright version of the booklet. The booklet (72 pages) can be ordered via [email protected] 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: [email protected] Foreign Desk e-mail: [email protected] 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 [email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected] & [email protected]
‘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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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.
[email protected]
Deutsches Sozialwerch in Frankreich
Works with German nationals imprisoned in France.
National
Charity
[email protected]
Skype or video conferencing is used to communicate with relatives and friends in home countries.
National
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
‘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 [email protected] or contact [email protected]
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
[email protected]
Prisoners can watch Estonian, Russian, and German-language channels on television
National
[email protected]
Prisoners can watch Estonian, Russian, and German-language channels on television
National
[email protected]
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.
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): [email protected], Delphine Vanhaelemeesch (BC): [email protected]
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 [email protected] Ploeg Gerhard (KDI) [email protected]
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 [email protected] Ploeg Gerhard (KDI) [email protected]
Flemish Prisons;
Activities are open for all prisoners.
Local Initiative in Flemish Prisons
Delphine Vanhaelemeesch (BC): [email protected]
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
[email protected]
All free-time activities are allowed and provided for foreign detainees who wish to take part.
National
[email protected]
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 [email protected]
Flemish Prisons;
Inside the prison, foreign prisoners have access to work and vocational training.
Local Initiative in Flemish Prisons
Liesbeth De Wit (OC): [email protected]
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
[email protected]
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 [email protected]
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): [email protected], Delphine Vanhaelemeesch (BC): [email protected]
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
[email protected]
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): [email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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 [email protected]
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): [email protected] Tine Van Laeken (CF): [email protected]
The prison library has books available in both Estonian and in Russian.
National
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
Chaplains of various religions are represented in prisons and detainees are guaranteed religious freedom to worship.
National
[email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 [email protected] Ploeg Gerhard (KDI) [email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 – [email protected] + Louise N’Gandu – [email protected]
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 [email protected]
Her Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS);
Commissioned a community migrant organisation to design & maintain an electronic resettlement toolkit, called “‘Tracks’, a resource for the resettlement of foreign prisoners (FP)”. It is designed to help FPs as well as prison, probation and other professionals working with foreign prisoners to plan for resettlement upon release either in the UK or on prison transfer or expulsion abroad. It contains information in a variety of languages, on the immigration process, resettlement options as well as country specific information packs. ’Tracks’ is designed so that FPs know what may happen to them and what they can do themselves to plan for and improve their resettlement options on sentence completion.
National Initiative; HMPPS project centrally commissioned
Discretionary implementation. Development & maintenance costs from HMPPS centre.
[email protected]
Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) Prison Operational Removal Team (PORT) staff are based in the two Foreign National-Only ‘Hub prisons’, and for parts of the week in ‘Spoke prisons’, where Foreign National Offenders (FNO) are held, to work with offender management and the FNOs in order to explain processes, try and give reassurances, and act as the conduit between the CC case owner and the FNO. The two FNO prisons are in the process at looking at what effective resettlement plans can be put in place for their populations, including looking at skill gaps back in their home countries etc.
National
National policy Cost savings having PORT staff present in the hub and spoke prisons
[email protected]
Pilot Project for foreign inmates in Kongsvinger (Foreign prisoner only) prison from 2016 –‘Planning For Resettlement’..
Background to project initiation;
what can be done for foreign inmates?
The Pilot Project’s goal was ‘To provide foreign inmates with further knowledge, insight and tools that can contribute to a better reintegration, independent of the destination after release’.
The selection criteria were expanded to also include those who were active in work or education but wanted to participate after hearing from others about the groups. The groups of 3 to four prisoners ran for 10 sessions, were run in English and comprised groups of multi-national prisoners.
Specific to Kongsvinger (Foreign National-only) Prison
Pilot Project at Kongsvinger Prison Cost not known
[email protected]
Program initiation in the Romanian language and cultural orientation. The program is sustained over a period for 3 months by educator in Romanian language
National
No additional financial resources required
[email protected]
note, this refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
See also above under 5.15.1 (admission)
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede [email protected] Maryvonne Jacquemin – [email protected]
International: Red Cross/Red Crescent, The worldwide ‘Family Links’ network of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (hereafter ICRC) as well as Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies (hereafter National Societies), has longstanding experience and expertise in restoring family links between family members separated (because, for instance, of conflict or migration). Practically, the National Societies or ICRC Delegation in one country can help people to restore and maintain contact with family members in another country through, for instance, the use of Red Cross messages. They can also help detainees to look for family members with whom they have lost contact and whose whereabouts are unknown.
Examples: a) a foreign prisoner cannot call his/her family because in his/her country of origin normal means of communication (telephone lines, postal system, etc.) are disrupted or unavailable. The prison authorities can ask the National Society to send a volunteer to the prison who will take a Red Cross message which will be distributed to the family in the country of origin through the National Society there or the ICRC Delegation; b) a foreign prisoner has lost contact with family members and does not know where they are (reasons can be multiple, migration, conflict, disasters, etc.). The prison authorities can aks the National Society to send a volunteer to take a tracing request. Such request will enable the National Society to start a search of the relative sought in cooperation with other National Societies or ICRC Delegations. For more information: https://familylinks.icrc.org
Furthermore, the National Societies can also help collecting and transmitting official administrative documents which will be transmitted to the foreign prisoner for the latter to exercise his rights (ex. birth certificates, divorce papers, inheritance documents, power of attorney, etc.).
International
No budget required (exceptionally postal fees)
Contact the Red Cross or Red Crescent National Society – Department for Restoring Family Link (RFL), or ICRC Delegation All available international contacts can be found at: https://familylinks.icrc.org
note, this refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres
See also above under 5.15.1 (admission)
National
National budget (Immigration)
Verbauwhede – [email protected] + Maryvonne Jacquemin – [email protected]
Hibiscus Initiatives; International Resettlement & Support Services for foreign prisoners being expelled and released into community. Hibiscus Initiatives is a voluntary sector organisation with a track record of delivering high-quality services for over 30 years. They have developed a widely acknowledged specialist expertise in working with foreign national and black, minority ethnic and refugee individuals in custody, in detention and the community.
Their work falls into 4 areas: prisons, community, international resettlement and human trafficking.
Their person-centred approach engages the clients, supporting and empowering them in dealing with their multiple and often complex needs and, importantly, addresses the disadvantage that language and cultural barriers present. In addition to being a lifeline for their clients, their work is widely respected by prison, probation and immigration staff.
Their specialist expertise in international reintegration and resettlement, and supporting migrant offenders and those at risk of offending, places Hibiscus Initiatives as one of the leading organisations supporting foreign nationals and BMER groups and individuals involved in the UK criminal justice system and indeed in Europe.
They work with over 1,000 clients from over 119 countries, providing: welfare, advice, advocacy, volunteering and mentoring in prisons
reintegration assistance and practical and emotional support for people in detention and those released from Immigration Removal Centres, community resettlement support for ex-offenders identification of potential victims of trafficking and awareness-raising on the risks of being trafficked to the UK.
They also aim to educate and influence policy makers and the public about the experiences of their clients.
http://hibiscusinitiatives.org.uk/
‘Safe Way Home’ is a Salvation Army chaplaincy programme in Norway. It receives funding from the Norwegian government, has an agreement with the Immigration Police and uses it’s international network of volunteers in 120 countries to support prisoners after release and deportation to their home country.
Further information from http://www.frelsesarmeen.no/ or Norwegian lead [email protected]
The program consists in assisting foreign detainees in launching micro-economic initiatives in their countries of origin during their time in detention; this is done by establishing contact with local social services that can assist the person locally and follow-up their project after release. The initiative is implemented in partnership with the Swiss branch of the International Social Service (ISS) as part of their program “reintegration in the country of origin” https://www.ssi-suisse.org/en/node/49 . The individual projects are implemented locally through the ISS worldwide network. The main steps are the following:
(Service pénitentaiire du Canton Vaud) https://www.vd.ch/autorites/departements/dis/penitentiaire/
2012 recommendations (section VI in particular). Budgetary coverage: maximum amount per project: 5000 CHF composed of: 1. the detainee’s own contribution (savings from his daily work remuneration in prison) 2. ISS financial contribution (top-up to 5000 CHF)
Raffaella Diana, deputy director of EPO. [email protected] Prison : Etablissements de la plaine de l’Orbe (EPO) Canton Vaud - Switzerland) https://www.vd.ch/themes/securite/penitentiaire/etablissements-penitentiaires/etablissements-de-la-plaine-de-lorbe/
Provide support (emotional, practical, material and –sporadically – financial) for FNP’s in preparing for repatriation. The Return and Repatriation Service and The International Organisation for Migration as well as NGO’s are available to provide assistance and support for foreign prisoners when preparing to return to their home country
National
[email protected]
Immigration Detention Centres;
See also above under 5.15.1 (admission)
Furthermore, detainees can always take contact with immigration office staff members to get more information about the organization of their return (they get the telephone numbers of the responsible staff members for the prison where they are incarcerated).
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – [email protected] + Maryvonne Jacquemin – [email protected]
note, this refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
See also above under 5.15.1 (admission) persons who are cooperating to the organization of their return can be released earlier (“Tribunal d’Application des Peines”) after Judgment or even up to six months before they are in the conditions for early release / end of sentence. If possible a transfer to an immigration detention centre shall be avoided and a direct transfer from prison to the country of origin shall be organized. In order to facilitate identification (and the obtaining of travel documents) a videoconferencing pilot project has been started (in two prisons and in the detention centres), so that consular officers can interview the detainees without a necessity to go to the prison.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – [email protected] + Maryvonne Jacquemin – [email protected]
note, this refers to immigration detainees
Immigration Detention Centres;
See also 6.36.2.
According to Vienna Convention on Consular Affairs, the Consular staff can always visit the detainees (on request of the detainee or own initiative, provided that the detainee is willing to speak to the consular officer).
Immigration Office can facilitate the contacts if wanted.
National
National budget (Immigration)
Geert Verbauwhede – [email protected] + Maryvonne Jacquemin – [email protected]
In every prison there is a foreign prisoner’s coordinator. The coordinator’s tasks are to provide counseling and to aid prisoners in dealing with prison authorities. Foreigners coordinator also helps with applying for documents.
National
[email protected]
Direct recruitment at Ter Apel Prison when it changed role to only hold foreign prisoners.
While retaining and retraining existing staff, additional staff were recruited directly from the public from a diverse range of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and with linguistic abilities to better reflect the prison’s new role and population.
Ter Apel Prison
[email protected]
Electronic ‘E-learning’ has been developed and rolled out nationally as a first stage ‘over view’ of the needs of Foreign National Offenders. When completed, this is further developed through ‘class room’ training for staff to enable then to have a greater depth of understanding of the needs of this group of offenders.
National
Implemented regionally. No budgetary impact assessment
Chapman, Brian [HMPPS] [email protected]
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;
Further Information from Project Officer Tina Isling, Project Oowner Annette Esdorf or from [email protected] See attached report, 5.27.4a Report on Nyborg Prison Denmark
2 initiatives;
(i) Four day programme for the professional development of staff working with foreign prisoners; 1st day information on Afghanistan, 2nd day of cross-cultural understanding, 3rd on motivational interviewing and 4th on human trafficking, modern day slavery and the identification of victims.
(ii) In development, raising staff competency in observing, identifying & sharing self -generated knowledge from their specialist role. Programme acknowledging professional development in new practice area needs to build on staff-groups skills & knowledge combined with external support & contribution.
Specific to Kongsvinger (Foreign National-only) Prison
Furthur information: Kristin Opaas Haugli, Reintegration coordinator / Adviser [email protected] and Ploeg Gerhard (KDI) [email protected]
Prison staff have the possibility to participate in Russian language courses.
National
[email protected]
Also see 7 39.2 Norway
foreign prisoners are identified as a particularly vulnerable group who require support and care. The delegation of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture observed the positive practice of appointing a dedicated foreign prisoners officer, who could meet and provide advice to each new foreign national and serve as a point of reference. Further, concerted efforts being made to provide foreign nationals with clear information on immigration procedures, through surgeries and information packs, are to be encouraged. It is not a mandatory requirement to have a dedicated foreign prisoners officer, though with a foreign prisoner population in England & Wales of 12%, many do.
National advice, not mandatory
Not applicable
[email protected]
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 Oowner Annette Esdorf or from [email protected]
The St Giles Trust, a charity, has evaluated the impact of their first foreign national ‘Peer Advisor Scheme’ at HMP Huntercombe, a foreign national-only prison. Serving prisoners were trained to become qualified advice workers, able to provide immigration and resettlement advice to their fellow prisoners. The results of the 2 year programme will be of interest to those shaping resettlement services for foreign prisoners in other prisons. The St Giles Trust won the Robin Corbett Award for Prisoner Rehabilitation for its work at HMP Huntercombe.
Local to HMP Huntercombe though may be rolled-out nationally.
Not applicable
Further Information from The St Giles Trust and Report https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/misc/The%20Peer%20Advisor%20Model%20in%20Prisons%20-final%20final.pdf
Noorderkempen Regional Prisons;
Legal advice and assistance for social workers and prisoners concerning residency status, expulsion and (voluntary) repatriation.
Local Initiative (4 prisons Noorderkempen)
Member of non-profit organization CAW De Kempen
www.cawdekempen.be