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Table of Recommendations and Practices Children of Imprisoned Parents

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Recommendation on Children of Imprisoned Parents

An interactive digital table was developed that contains articles from the whole Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)5 of Imprisoned Parents* published by the Council of Europe. For each Article of the Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)5 of Imprisoned Parents, countries can indicate the implementation status, concrete practical measures that were implemented, future plans, and reasons for non-implementation. The table should serve as inspiration, support, and stimulation to implement the CoE Recommendation. Countries that are not yet included are invited to submit their data and send them to [email protected].

The recommendation is directed among others to the justice sector like correctional services and to agencies working for children:

*Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member States concerning children with imprisoned parents (2019)

Instructions

Click on each article below to view how countries have implemented the recommendation. The countries have identified the status of the implementation and commented on it. On the right side, there are two filter options: choose a specific country that commented on the implementation, or choose to filter the recommendation base on the topic.

The table was updated in 2022

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1. Children with imprisoned parents shall be treated with respect for their human rights and with due regard for their particular situation and needs. These children shall be provided with the opportunity for their views to be heard, directly or indirectly, in relation to decisions which may affect them. Measures that ensure child protection, including respect for the child’s best interests, family life and privacy shall be integral to this, as shall be the measures which support the role of the imprisoned parent from the start of detention and after release.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
In the design of our policies, procedures and actions, we always take into consideration the best interest of the child, in order to protect and support the positive child-parent relationship. Concertedly, the design of the security measures does not outweigh the needs of the situation of the child. [This article refers to 3 stages: start of the detention (maybe police detention), imprisonment, after release. So my comments refer to the stage of imprisonment]
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
Romania has promoted the Recommendation CM/Rec (2018) 5 at the level of the detention units by posting it on the internal portal of NAP, which all the prison staff members have access to.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Child Protection Policy renewed in 2019 and in place across all prisons. Other relevant changes may be implemented in the light of proposals to incorporate the UNCRC into Scots law
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
Children of incarcerated parents must be given a voice. Measures to strengthen the role of parents, child welfare and family life as well as the privacy of children must be more installed.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
The best interests of the child are not always taken into account. The child is not really heard. He does not have the floor. Parent-child relationship support agencies (such as REP) are overwhelmed. There are waiting lists. These are organizations that are poorly supported financially and have significant structural difficulties. There are few specific organizations that help inmates in their reintegration to work on child-parent relationships.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
The design of prison policies by the Secretariat of Criminal Sanctions, Rehabilitation and Victim Support (Secretariat) is aimed at reducing reoffending and protecting victims. It is foreseen that the new Strategic Planning will establish a set of goals related to the parental role by inmates. The Participation and Coexistence Programme (Model de Participació i Conviència) together with the number of initiatives carried out by the Parental Responsibility Groups have created participatory experiences in which the voice of the inmates' children and their families have been heard.
2. Where a custodial sentence is being contemplated, the rights and best interests of any affected children should be taken into consideration and alternatives to detention be used as far as possible and appropriate, especially in the case of a parent who is a primary caregiver.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
The rights and interests of the child are very rarely taken into consideration for men during an incarceration. It is more so for women (there are probably more alternatives to detention that are decided upon) and, moreover, there are nurseries that allow children under the age of 3 to stay in detention with their mothers (after analysis of the child's interests by specialized organizations such as the ONE, sometimes in consultation with youth protection services or the family judge).
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
If imprisonment is considered, the rights and best interests of the children concerned should be taken into account and reasonable alternatives to imprisonment should be used as far as possible. In case of imprisonment of a parent, placement in close proximity to the children should be sought.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
The rights of the child and their best interests are taken into account but are not a priority for the Prison Treatment Teams when they must propose treatment or training programmes for the inmate, the granting of prison leaves, the progression in the prison life regime or any other changes in the prison situation of an inmate. The Open Dependent Units for inmates who are mothers and their children, are some of the measures that are proposed by the prison regularly and are approved by the competent judicial authority. However, certain Prison Supervisory Judges are reluctant to approve measures proposed by the prison in order to allow the inmate to improve their capacity to take care of their family members while serving the sentence.
3. Whenever a parent is detained, particular consideration shall be given to allocating them to a facility close to their children.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
Usually, prison sentences are served in the unit which is the nearest to the inmate’s residence.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
In the event that one of the parents is imprisoned, efforts must be made to ensure that the children are placed in close proximity to them.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Prisoners are allocated to a local establishment when this is possible and in line with sentence plan
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
Even if it is the ideal and if it is the course of action, security imperatives or problems of overpopulation often decide otherwise.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The Law foresees that the allocation of an inmate in a particular prison will be decided taking into account the prison system occupancy but also the need to prevent the inmate's social uprooting. The law states that the inmates must serve their sentence in the prison that is closest to their family and social network, fully ensuring their fundamental rights.
4. When deciding to transfer sentenced persons to or from a State in which their children reside due regard shall be given to the best interests of the child when considering the rehabilitation purpose of the transfer.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Germany
Status
No
Comments
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
This is still not often enough the case
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
When there is an application asking for the transfer of an inmate to or from a different state, social workers (family liaison officer) of the Prison Social Services are responsible for assessing the case. In their report about the suitability of the transfer they will take into account the situation of the inmate’s close family members paying particular attention to his/her children.
5. The prison administration shall endeavour to collect and collate relevant information at entry regarding the children of those detained.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
The prison administration shall endeavor to collect and collate relevant information at entry regarding the children of those detained. Social workers obtain information about the inmates’ children during an interview, with the aim to identify the cases which need assistance.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Prisoners are asked on admission about any children they may have There are legal restrictions on the use and storage of data about children
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
The information is requested by the social worker at the time of the incarceration, but not recorded.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
The prison administration shall collect relevant information on the children of the detainees at the beginning of their imprisonment.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Prison social workers (family liaison officer) are responsible for assessing the requests of the inmate for being transferred to another prison. The report they issue on the matter will take into account the situation of the inmate’s family members that live together as a family unit, and in particular that of his/her children.
6. National authorities shall endeavour to provide sufficient resources to State agencies and civil society organisations to support children with imprisoned parents and their families to enable them to deal effectively with their particular situation and specific needs, including offering logistic and financial support, where necessary, in order to maintain contact.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
Meetings between the institutionalized children and their parents in custody are organized based upon the centrally concluded partnership between the National Administration of Penitentiaries and the National Authority for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Children and Adoption.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Funding is available through the Assisted Prison Visits scheme for those family members who meet eligibility criteria Prison visitor centres which offer a place for families to rest and chat before/after a visit are supported with funding from Scottish Government.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
State institutions and civil society organisations must be provided with sufficient resources to adequately support children of incarcerated parents and their families.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
It's really not enough. The means granted to the organizations are unstable (subsidies that must be requested for renewal every year). They are often precarious contracts. There is a lot of turnover in these organizations, which does not allow for good continuity in the work. There are not enough staff. It would be necessary to make these organizations more sustainable through more stable and consistent funding to increase the supply. And the reorganization in prisons (rationalization of staff by reducing the number of personnel) makes it difficult in some prisons - the oldest) - to set up activities or maintenance (problems for the movement of inmates, lack of offices, etc.).
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Prison social workers together with the Community Social Services make a joint assessment of the public subsidies and benefits that could support the basic needs, transport and children care for that inmate’s family. A special focus is placed on the education needs and wellbeing of the inmates' children.
7. Appropriate training on child-related policies, practices and procedures, shall be provided for all staff in contact with children and their imprisoned parents.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Several NGOs i.e. the Centre of Èxpertise K I N D (kind means child) are helping the prison service training institute to develop a toolkit for professionals and specific training for prison staff. The centre also provides one to one advice.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
eLearning package developed for all staff on Family Strategy, Corporate Parenting and Child Protection, although training is currently not taking place because of COVID emergency
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
Staff of domestic authorities who are in contact with children and their detained parents shall be adequately trained.
Country
Belgium
Status
No
Comments
There is a training center for staff on each language side of the country, but such training modules are not offered.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
The Centre of Legal Studies and Specialized Training (CEJFE) offers a wide range of training courses and continued education in all the fields of criminal justice relevant for all professionals of the Secretariat. Currently there is no specific training about child related policies such as topics on family, parental roles and child protection. However, the CEJFE organizes training and knowledge management groups to promote professional expertise of social workers about intervention with families.
8. Due consideration should be given by the police to the impact that arrest of a parent may have on any children present. In such cases, where possible, arrest should be carried out in the absence of the child or, at a minimum, in a child-sensitive manner.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Germany
Status
No
Comments
This does not concern the area of correctional services.The responsibility lies with the interior ministries.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Not Applicable
Comments
The decision and the procedure for the arrest of individuals is responsibility of the police and the courts, which are not part of the Secretariat. Police falls under the Ministry of Interior of Catalonia and the courts and their internal policies, fall under the responsibility of the Spanish Ministry of Justice
9. Enforcing restrictions on contact of an arrested or a remanded parent shall be done in such a way as to respect the children’s right to maintain contact with them.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Prisoners who are untried are entitled to frequent visits in line with Prison Rules (a 30 minute visit every weekday; a visit at the weekend where one has not been taken during the week).
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
The courts or public prosecutors' offices are responsible for this. As far as there are no procedural safeguards, contact with the children must be made possible in a timely manner. In the Laender, rapid contact is guaranteed, for example, through visits, letters or telephone calls. In addition, more extensive visitation opportunities are regularly granted, particularly in the context of pre-trial detention.
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
From the day after his imprisonment, the detainee may receive visits from his children (provided that the child under 16 years of age is accompanied and that the family relationship can be proven). If there are restrictions issued by the judge, it is a 72-hour incommunicado detention during which the detainee can have no contact with anyone (except lawyer). Other measures can be taken for longer periods of time, but rarely with respect to children unless they are obviously victims.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Pre-trial and sentenced inmates that are in prison have both the same rights and possibilities to receive family visits. Only in very specific cases restricted by law, may the court impose some limitations on family visits to pre-trial inmates.
10. Without prejudice to the independence of the judiciary, before a judicial order or a sentence is imposed on a parent, account shall be taken of the rights and needs of their children and the potential impact on them. The judiciary should examine the possibility of a reasonable suspension of pre-trial detention or the execution of a prison sentence and their possible replacement with community sanctions or measures.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
This does not concern the area of correctional services. The courts or public prosecutors' offices are responsible for this.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
For men, these are certainly not decisive criteria. It's more often the case for women.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Not Applicable
Comments
As mentioned earlier, judicial authorities are independent and belong to the Spanish central state administration. Neither the Secretariat/Ministry of Justice of Catalonia nor the Ministry of Interior of Spain have any responsibility on the courts' decisions on this matter.
11. Significant events in a child’s life – such as birthdays, first day of school or hospitalisation – should be considered when granting prison leave to imprisoned parents.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
We are granting prison leave or transfers with or without escort – this is depending on several factors - so as the imprisoned parent to attend special family events.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Such visits may be possible for those prisoners who are entitled to day or home leave Special Escorted leave may be considered where applicable
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
The prison laws of the Laender provide for extensive and varied possibilities of relaxation or measures to open up the prison for suitable prisoners. In addition to regular release, these also include, for example, holidays, long-term exits, exits and executions for important reasons. Family reasons should continue to be taken into account.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
It is provided for by law but too rarely granted on such grounds. If the detainee is granted leave, he has 3 leaves for a period of 3 months, which he must first set according to the steps to be taken before family interests most often take precedence. If a family event occurs and he no longer has leave to take advantage of, it is more difficult for him to be granted a release. He will often be granted for a funeral or to go to the bedside of a sick relative or for a specific procedure, but rarely if ever for a birthday or the beginning of the school year.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The inmates who have the right to be granted a leave or a video call, can choose the dates they wish to make use of them. They can organise the leaves and/or the video calls to match their family events, while at the same time respecting the activities of their Individual Treatment Plan. Those inmates that are not entitled to leaves, can request to be brought to the Hospital accompanied by the police for exceptional situations such as serious illness or birth. The Parental Responsibility Group of the Secretariat has designed a Protocol in order to accommodate birthday celebrations in the family visits designated area of the prison. Arts facilitators of the prison have designed birthday decorations and materials to be used in these occasions.
12. Prior to, or on admission, individuals with caregiving responsibilities for children shall be enabled to make arrangements for those children, taking into account the best interests of the child.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Inherently clarified by the police acting jointly with child and youth welfare when being arrested
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
On admission, during the initial interview and screening we collect the necessary information about the children that will enable Prisons to make relevant arrangements for the children.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
It’s a legal requirement and principle to place the convict in the prison closest to their home – in case it is possible. In case of sentenced women, § 84 (5) of the Act CCXL of 2013 on the execution of punishments, criminal measures, certain coercive measures and confinement for administrative offence (the Prison Code) regulates the matter. Admittance to mother-child unit can be requested with a child under one year of age. § 85 of the Prison Code continues to take into consideration the home address/residence of the inmate upon admission, but also takes into consideration the crowdedness of the individual prison institutions, and in practice, most of the time the alignment of crowdedness of all prisons determines the designated prison institute.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Question on Governor Committal Interview (GCI) and referral to DLP
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Is part of the check-in interview and ‘child-check’
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Implemented in Norwegian law. Specified in guidelines to the law that children should be given special priority for visits and use of skype in the event of a pandemic outbreak.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Every person admitted is given the opportunity to make a phonecall A Core screen is offered within 72 hours of admission which covers immediate issues of concern relating to coming into custody including child care issues and any concerns about visits These concerns can also be raised at Induction. Family Contact Officers provide support
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
The chairman of the senate may allow a reasonable period of time to start serving his sentence so that the convicted person can procure his affairs.
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
It should be clarified by the police when arrested together with child and social service, although the staaf always ask about it when they have knowledge that the inmate have children.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
Sentencing summonses usually allow sentenced persons sufficient time to ensure the care of children during detention. In these cases, as well as when prisoners are brought in after police arrests, the care obligations of the prisoners are immediately ascertained at the initial reception in order to be able to arrange support and assistance measures for the children concerned, if necessary. Furthermore, especially in cases of pre-trial detention, the responsibility lies with the courts or public prosecutors' offices as well as with the interior ministries in cases of arrests.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
The police often contact the prison beforehand when a mother is to be incarcerated and has a baby/child under the age of 3 years. But all too often, we still have testimonies of children left at a friend's, a neighbor's, or in the best of cases, at a close relative's home, but sometimes without a lasting solution. It is in the days or weeks following incarceration that solutions are sought.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Usually the enforcement of the prison sentence allows sufficient time to prepare in advance the inmate’s intake at the prison. This is done by arranging an appointment with the social worker ahead of the intake. At this appointment the social worker will give the future inmate advise about the means and support resources available for their children once s/he starts to serve the sentence. It should also be said that those inmates who are granted open regime from the outset of their sentence, will already be allocated in an open prison. This is not applicable to pre-trial inmates as the arrest and allocation in prison center is decided by the court. The early support for the children of pre-trial detainees at the moment of arrest is responsibility of the police and community social services.
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
On admission, during the initial interview and screening we collect the necessary information about the children.
13. At admission, the prison administration should record the number of children a prisoner has, their ages, and their current primary caregiver, and shall endeavour to keep this information up-to-date.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
During the modalities of the entrance in an prison (first interview by the special services) the inmates are asked about their personal data. Following, this data is fed into the EVM (Austrian electronic system of inmates data). However, this individual inmate data (text files) cannot recalled automated (yet), so accordingly to this, the number of affected children cannot be filtered out. The responsible IT administration has to be asked if and how the data could be recalled automated so as the Directorate General for the prison Service has a central access to the data of affected children.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
We collect the number of children and their ages in order to facilitate the attendance of their imprisoned parents to important family events with home leaves or transfers, and also to address any particularities and needs of the children who will visit our premises, so as to make the environment for them as friendly as possible to support the child-parent relationship. For example, for the children with disabilities or with any other special needs we facilitate the visits accordingly in the best interest of the children
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
It is registered upon admission
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Question on GCI
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
BRIK mapping - the number and age of children is recorded. The number and age of child inmates do not have legal care for registered
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
During the quarantine and observation period, all the inmates are assessed socially and information about his/her children’s number, sex and age and the person/institution taking care of the children is recorded and, then, periodically updated while serving the custodial sentences.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Prisoners are offered the opportunity to state their family circumstances during the core screen interview and as part of the Integrated Case Management process Data on children of prisoners is not collated on the prison records system. There are legal restrictions on the holding of data about children
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
It is a part of admissions interview with inmates
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
During the access their is an interview with the inmate, the inmates are asked about it and the data is fed into the client system
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
As a rule, the required data are not collected. Only with regard to age and number of children has the recommendation already been implemented in some Laender. However, the important main caregiver is not recorded so far. In future, the age, number and main carer of the children should be collected by the prisons in compliance with the respective applicable data protection regulations. It would be desirable to also collect the following personal data: Date of birth of the children, other parent, distinction between natural/social child, place of residence of the child, offices involved, maintenance obligation, custody. With regard to research and evaluation purposes (cf. Recommendation No. 52), the age and number of children of prisoners must be recorded in a statistically evaluable manner - if applicable, via the specialised prison procedures. All data must be kept up to date as far as possible. As a rule, the data is based on the information provided by the prisoners; there is no comparison of the data with third parties.
Country
Belgium
Status
No
Comments
This is an important gap. There is no systematization of the recording of these data, nor is there a regular update.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Prison social workers are responsible for gathering all the inmate's family details and introduce them in the Prison Information System. They will place particular attention in collecting the maximum information possible about the children or any other inmate's relative in a vulnerable situation. The social worker will update the family information on the data base every time that the Prison Treatment Team has to assess a change in the life regime of the inmate.
14. On admission and on a prisoner’s transfer, prison authorities shall assist prisoners who wish to do so in informing their children (and their caregivers) of their imprisonment and whereabouts or shall ensure that such information is sent to them.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
At the request of the inmates, the relatives could be informed about the place of stay by the special services.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
On admission, prisons assist each prisoner to contact any relative or person to inform him/her about his/her imprisonment accordingly
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Upon admission envelope is granted free of charge. In case of transfer, the officer is obliged to inform the prisoner about the exact time and date, and the location of the transfer
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Question about family awareness on GCI
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Question about family awareness by special case manager/family functionnaire
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Has developed brochures for children who shall visit parent in prison. In prison Child coordinator and social worker helps with information. Contact with relatives during incarceration, as long as the inmate wishes and has given his consent to the contact. If inmates need advice and guidance on telling their children about the imprisonment or other matters related to children, they can contact the child coordinator or it is recommended to contact NGO such as Church City Mission - Prisoners Children or The Organisation for Families and Friends of Prisoners (FFP).
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
Upon inmates’ admission or in case of their transfer, the family and the child’s caregiver are informed of the accommodation place by the prison administration.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Prisoners are given access to a pin phone so that they are able to inform their families. Special requests can be made to top up pin phone credit
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
The relatives could be informed about the place of stay by the prisoned person. Using telephone (start- up credit)
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
Prisoners are to be sensitised to contacting their children after entering prison. Many Laender prison laws and the prison rules of procedure already contain information on informing relatives. In the access procedure, prisoners should be shown the possibilities to inform their children. If necessary, the prisoners are to be supported. This also applies to transfers and relocations.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
This is foreseen in the Prison Regulations. Right after their intake at the prison, the inmate is entitled to make a phone call with limited time in order to inform their family members. Over the intake interview, the social worker will contact the inmate’s family when s/he has given authorization to do so.
15. Support and information shall be provided by the prison, as far as possible, about contact and visiting modalities, procedures and internal rules in a child-friendly manner and in different languages and formats as necessary.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
Partly
Comments
On the homepage of the respective prisons, information about the current visit times can be found only in German language. The house rules, which all inmates receive and which are translated into different languages, contain more detailed informations about the visit modalities. These informations could be given to the inmates relatives. Due the fact, that the information about the contact modalities are not available in a child friendly manner, the idea is creating a brochure for children who visit the prison the first time accordingly to the folder of Norway and Sweden.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
On admission each inmate is informed about the rules of visits, appointments for visits, procedures etc. Further, the relevant office contacts the potential visitors of each inmate for informing about the visiting modalities, procedures etc, so they pave the way for a child-friendly environment.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Carried out upon admission
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
First Contact Assessment with Integrated Sentence Manager
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Information by family functionnaire of the prison service and special information for children on the prison service website NGOs also made video films to inform children
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Several prisons have children's pages on the website and the directorate has made a booklet aimed at children visiting prisons. FFP has prepared information material such as several films and written information material aimed at children – “ Lisa visits dad in prison”, inmates – “Are you mom or dad and in prison?” and against caregivers on the outside – “Outside the wall” - a handbook for you as a relative.
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
There are user-friendly materials (posters and flyers) addressed to the children visiting their parents in custody.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
SPS website has information regarding visits. Booklets and induction processes are in place. Family Contact officers support new admissions to understand arrangements for visits and family contact. With the consent of the prisoner, families should be contacted or sent an information pack as part of the induction process. Scope to make information more child-friendly. Plans to make information more child friendly will be incorporated into the new family strategy, including making child friendly versions of information available on the SPS website.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
First Contact Assessment with Integrated Sentence Manager we are considering publishing an information brochure
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
There is a special website for the children with all information and before visits information is sent he children.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
Children need special age-appropriate support (visits outside school hours, on weekends and holidays, child-friendly visiting and waiting areas, uncomplicated communication via telephone, letters, etc.) in establishing contact with their parents in detention. Age-appropriate information on the existing contact options and how they are organised should be made available to the children in different languages.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
During the reception of the prisoner at the prison, explanations are given on visits and regulations (in writing and orally by the director and the social worker). This is not done in different languages (French or Dutch, sometimes English). Another prisoner may be called in to translate or a member of staff may be called in if this is possible. Depending on the situation, the social worker contacts the family to explain the visiting arrangements. There is not really a specific document addressed to children. It needs to be improved.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
The prisons have information brochures and display panels for the families where the most relevant aspects of the prison regulations, family visits and parcels. The information office in each prison is also available to answer any inquiries of information. There are no specific materials aimed at informing children, but there are for families.
16. Apart from considerations regarding requirements of administration of justice, safety and security, the allocation of an imprisoned parent to a particular prison, shall, where appropriate, and in the best interests of their child, be done such as to facilitate maintaining child-parent contact, relations and visits without undue burden either financially or geographically.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
Partly
Comments
As part of the classification or changes of the place of execution, an attempt is made to define a place of execution close to the social contacts. However, this my be due to capacity reasons or safety concerns and cannot always be guaranteed
Country
Cyprus
Status
Not Applicable
Comments
Not applicable as we have only one prison (three kinds of prisons under one administration, all in the same are). But we allocate inmates in blocks, many times following their requests to stay with their friends or relatives, given that their stay with them will not affect any security factors.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Pre-trial detainee is placed in a prison closest to the responsible Court. In case of prisoners with sentence, it is a goal to place them in the prison closest to their home. Needs of families are taken into consideration as much as possible. For example for visiting, inmate may initiate/request his or her transfer to a prison which is closer to the family – for the time of the visit. (Although it has to be mentioned, that it is not significant currently due to covid regulations and because of the possibility to use Skype)
Country
Ireland
Status
No
Comments
Most prisoners are allocated to a prison in the region of the court but capacity issues preclude a place near home to all prisoners. Awareness of family is considered a factor in the decision but sometimes the need for capacity and/or security issues negate the voice of the child. As part of an awareness raising campaign managers will be advised regarding the content of recommendation 16
Country
Netherlands
Status
Not Always
Comments
Most prisoners are allocated to a prison in the region of their home but capacity issues can limit the possibilities, i.e. for special regimes like high security prisons or penitentiary psychiatric centres. Awareness of family is considered a factor in the decision but sometimes the need for capacity and/or security issues negate the voice of the child.
Country
Norway
Status
No
Comments
Norway has a principle that an inmate must serve time in the vicinity of places of residence.
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
Whenever possible, prisoners are allocated to a prison unit also taking into account the opportunity to facilitate child-parent contact, relations and visits.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Prisoners are allocated a local establishment where possible and in line with sentence plan. There may be operating capacity considerations as well as prisoner behaviour and safety which prevent this.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Prisoners are allocated a local establishment where possible and in line with sentence plan. There may be operating capacity considerations as well as prisoner behaviour and safety which prevent this.
Country
Sweden
Status
No
Comments
The SPPS do not apply proximity to children as a principle when the inmate is placed other principles concerning the inmate are above the child perspective for example capacity and security concern. No further change of policy, i t would not be possible due to current high occupancy.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Prisoners are allocated a local establishment where possible and in line with sentence plan. There may be operating capacity considerations as well as prisoner behaviour and safety which prevent this.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
Prisoners are regularly accommodated close to home. If this is not possible due to the differentiation of the prison system, more intensive use should be made of visiting transfers. Financial support exists within the framework of social legislation. The responsibility also lies with the social ministries.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
Security or other interests, such as overcrowding in some prisons, take precedence over the best interests of the child. Geographic travel can be more than 100 km away and can result in financial costs to the family. In certain circumstances, there is collaboration with the Red Cross and its "Itinérance” (Itinerancy) service. Volunteers provide transportation for some children placed in institutions or with foster families to ensure the link.
17. Children should normally be allowed to visit an imprisoned parent within a week following the parent’s detention and, on a regular and frequent basis, from then on. Child-friendly visits should be authorised in principle once a week, with shorter, more frequent visits allowed for very young children, as appropriate.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Prisoners can receive visits within the specified visiting times as often as a reasonable effort can be guaranteed. But at least, once a week for about half an hour. Within 6 weeks, the visit could be extended to one hour. The austrian penal system law stipulates that at least 4 weekdays of which one time in the evening or on the weekend the visiting times have to be set. Family visits allow a visit time of at least 3 hours to a maximum of 14 hours. There are long-term visits at many prisons, but the main conditions for an approval is a positive behavior of an inmate.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Each newly admitted inmate is allowed the first three visits from the very next day of his/her admission without a formal appointment for visit. So the children can visit their imprisoned parents from the next day. Normally, they are authorized for 10 visits monthly.
Country
Hungary
Status
Partly
Comments
Pre-trial detainee is entitled to receive a visitor within 72 hours. According to the normal procedure, a detained person has the right for visitation 2*60 minutes/month. Frequency and length of visits vary according to the inmates’ regime classification. Light/Low regime: 2*90 min/month, medium and strict regime: 1*90 min/month. According to an inmate’s security classification these limits can differ +/-. Visiting was suspended due to covid, instead possibility of video-visiting through skype.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Remand prisoners have 3x 30-minute visits weekly and sentenced prisoners have 2x 30-minute visits per week. Family visits are allowed but on a behaviour of the prisoner basis only. Virtual visits are also offered to all prisoners.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
All prisoners have the right to receive visits 1 x 60 minutes weekly, children allowed. Special child-friendly visiting hour (called parent-child-detention days) 1 x 90 minutes monthly. Family visits in a special family room (if available) are allowed for sentenced prisoners on a behaviour of the prisoner basis. NGOs organize parent-child detention days based on the social contract
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
The process to visit usually takes longer than a week. Children are allowed to visit imprisoned parent on regular and frequent basis. Length of visit varies by type of prison and depending on various restrictions.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Yes, but currently suspended because of COVID restrictions The Prison Rules set out entitlements to visits during remand and once sentenced. Checks may be undertaken with social work services before a first visit for the wellbeing of the child. All visits sessions are child friendly. In addition, children’s specific visits are in place across the estate. Some establishments have specific bonding visits for younger children 0-3 and family sessions. These are slowly being reintroduced in line with pandemic planning.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
Remand prisoners and sentenced prisoners have 2 hours at least visit per mouth. Juvenile 1 hour per week at least. Mostly 5 persons including children, in case the prisoned person has more than four children, this restriction shall not apply his children. Prison governor can in reasoned cases allow receiving a visit more often or a visit of more persons.
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes And No
Comments
Prisoners can receive visits within the specified visiting times so often that a reasonable effort can be guaranteed. t can vary but a visit once a week is not unusual. A permission for visit is based on an investigation that contact is not harmful for the child. A permission therefor be longer than one week.
Country
Germany
Status
No
Comments
The point is precisely formulated in its requirements and should be implemented in its wording in all correctional institutions. For better planning of the accompanying person, an early arrangement of appointments for future visits should be made possible. Responsibility also lies with the courts or public prosecutors' offices. In pre-trial detention, the responsibility for visitation arrangements generally lies with the custodial judge: If children are involved, decisions on visitation requests should be processed as a matter of priority.
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
Unless the judge decides otherwise, regular visits are possible from the day after incarceration. The rhythm of visits varies according to the status of the prisoner (accused or convicted) and the prison in which he or she is held (visits are possible every day for an accused person, minimum 3 times a week for a convicted person, including at least one day on weekends and Wednesdays). There are also family visits without supervision possible for a minimum of 2 hours at least once a month. Visits adapted for children and supervised are organized by external centers (ex Relais Enfant-Parent, on the French-speaking side of the country). The realities are different according to the prisons (sometimes it is only one collective visit per month, sometimes 2 visits per month, sometimes once a week). They are authorized in addition to regular visits.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
During the first week of detention, the inmate is allocated in a specific unit for new arrivals and during this week family visits take place on a room with a glass partition. Once the inmate is allocated in a regular residential unit and is assigned, s/he will need to fill in an application requesting the different types of visits s/he wishes to schedule: 2 family visits per month of 90 minutes each, 2 family visits per month of 90 minutes each with children under 12 and extraordinary visits. Weekly 1 visit with a glass-screen.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
Visits can be scheduled the next day, if there are available time slots in the visiting programme
18. Visits shall be organised so as not to interfere with other elements of the child’s life, such as school attendance. If weekly visits are not feasible, proportionately longer, less frequent visits allowing for greater child-parent interaction should be facilitated.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
Partly
Comments
The visiting time is determined by the head of a prison within the framework of the above-mentioned legal requirements. Therefore the visiting time could vary from prison to prison (e.g. more visiting times in the evening and on weekends) By the Directorate General for the Prison Service interventions of offering more family-friendly have been made. Partial successes have been achieved so that some prisons have extended their visiting times.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
The visits are organized according to the needs of the family, and thus for the children. If there are barriers for children to visit their imprisoned parents due to school programs etc, arrangements for longer visits are made to facilitate greater interaction. Accordingly, the SKYPE visits are arranged during hours that are convenient to the children.
Country
Hungary
Status
Partly
Comments
Visits can be carried out during afternoon hours or weekends. Visiting was suspended due to covid, instead possibility of video-visiting through skype.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Evening visits 5pm to 7pm are allowed
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Visiting hours in weekends and if possible on Wednesday afternoons
Country
Norway
Status
No
Comments
Visits are arranged beyond regular visit times based on what is in the best interests of the child, as well as longer visits if someone comes from far away or other needs indicate this.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Yes but currently suspended because of COVID restrictions Children’s specific visits are available in evenings and at weekends. Accumulated and double visits can be arranged where possible. The full range of visits is gradually being reinstated as Covid regulations allow.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
Sentenced prisoners have visits allowed on weekend adjusting the time of visits so that they are realized outside the time of school attendance,
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
The visiting times are determined by every unit and can therefore vary. Some offer more visiting times in the evening and on weekends than others. in some units special apartments are offered and the the family can stay overnight.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
Visiting possibilities on different days of the week and at different times of the day are to be worked towards. They ensure that not only the school attendance mentioned as an example, but also other important appointments of the child are not impaired.
Country
Switzerland
Status
Partly
Comments
Swiss prisons in Geneva, Vaud and Fribourg organize monthly group visits for children and their parent in prison, with an evaluation of the best interest by the partner Ngo REPR, that supports children during the whole visit. Feedback about the needs and feelings of the children are brought back to the prison staff and the parents.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
This varies greatly depending on the reality from one prison to another, but clearly improvements must be made in this regard. Material and human resources are often insufficient.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
All family visits and family activities take place over the weekend or on bank holidays. There are cases in which the inmate's children are in a foster family or in a residential centre of the Child Protection Services. Family visits in these cases are organised in a dedicated facility of the Ministry of Welfare and Families, which are distributed in the Community. The family visits in these cases take place during weekdays at the date/time set by the Child Protection Services.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
The visiting time is 12 hours everyday, including weekends and visits are carried out based on a schedule.
19. In cases where the current caregiver is not available to accompany a child’s visit, alternative solutions should be sought, such as accompanying by a qualified professional or representative of an organisation working in this field or another person as appropriate.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
Not yet, but it is planned already Contact has been made already with the Vienna Family Association, which has been offering visits for many years also accompanied visits to imprisoned parents. The prison Wien-Simmering was selected as the pilot institute and the visits should have started in March 2020. Inmates, who could have made contact with their children as part of a dy pass under expert supervision of the Family Association, were selected already. Austria heard from Switherland via Cope that, in the chalet in front of the prison, as in many examples of visitor centers in several countries, there is a place and a time for children to pull up themselves after a visit before going back to their life.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
We communicate the situation to welfare workers who work in prisons to make arrangements for alternative solutions that fall into their responsibility, and accordingly, arrangements are made in order to make the visit possible and facilitate it.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Social workers and Court appointed Guardians are there to help visitation of children.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Social workers and Court appointed Guardians currently bring children to see their parents.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Once a month social workers and volunteers /NGOs drive children to prisons for a child-friendly visiting hour if the current caregiver is not available or cannot afford it. NGOs have chat possibilities for families and children, advicelines, workshop father-child to support fathers to learn about the child focus, individual support etc.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Social workers, a person from child welfare, a person church city mission, or relatives bring children to see their fathers.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
SPS facilitates visits by children who are accompanied by social workers or other worker.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
A person under the age of 15 may attend the visit only if accompanied by an adult
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
A child must be accompanied by an adult that is approved. that can also be someone from the social services or an NGO.
Country
Switzerland
Status
Yes
Comments
In the Chalet in front of the prison, as in many examples of visitors centres in several countries, there is a place and a time for children to pull themselves after a visit before going back to their life.
Country
Germany
Status
No
Comments
The implementation of this recommendation is not the responsibility of the prison. The prison system provides support in identifying and contacting competent organisations. The responsibility lies with the social and family ministries and, if necessary, with civil society organisations.
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
There is a collaboration with the Red Cross and its "Itinérance” (Itinerancy) service. Volunteers provide transportation for some children.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Prison social workers together with the NGO Niños sin Barreras (Children without barriers) will look for solutions so that these children are accompanied to the prison for the family visits. For the children that live with their mothers at the Mothers' Unit, the Child Protection Services will select families that voluntarily wish to host these children for them to spend the weekend in a family environment.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
Social workers, a person from child welfare, or relatives can bring children to see their parents.
20. A designated children’s space shall be provided in prison waiting and visiting rooms (with a bottle warmer, a changing table, toys, books, drawing materials, games, etc.) where children can feel safe, welcome and respected. Prison visits shall provide an environment conducive to play and interaction with the parent. Consideration should also be given to permitting visits to take place in the vicinity of the detention facility, with a view to promoting, maintaining and developing child-parent relationships in as normal a setting as possible.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Last year, the head of the prisons were asked to take pictures of the visitor zones. Based on the feedback, it turned out that almost all of the prisons have their own children's area, equipped with books, toys and painting utilities. Some prisons have renewed their play area in the course of the survey. Abook package (books dealing with the problems of children of imprisoned parents) was also ordered for all prisons for the visitor zone.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
The visiting areas are organized as described in the article.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
During family visits, “child’s corner” – playing are created in visiting rooms.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Visitor centre located at each closed prison. Community visits also occur with appropriate community partners. Play areas provided in the waiting area and in the prison visits.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Visitor centre located at each closed prison. Play areas provided in the waiting area and in the prison visits. In some prisons there are special family rooms for informal parent-child contact, with possibilities to play or make homework together. Special family rooms in more prisons are foreseen.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
Yes, with the observation of the sanitary regulations imposed by COVID-19 situation Special spaces for organizing the visits with minors have been rehabilitated and endowed accordingly in 38 prisons. Visits can be unfolded all day long.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
All visit rooms are child friendly. Changing facilities are available. Scottish prisons offer Visiting Centre facilities where families can meet with prison employees and volunteer workers and receive information on matters relating to imprisonment. Family Strategy groups have oversight of the availability of play and learning materials. More needs to be done to ensure supplies of age appropriate toys etc. The visits in the Open Conditions prison take place in a comfortable space on site that has a café Barista environment. All visit rooms are child friendly. Changing facilities are available. Family Strategy groups have oversight of the availability of play and learning materials. More needs to be done to ensure supplies of age appropriate toys etc. The visits in the Open Conditions prison take place in a comfortable space on site that has a café Barista environment. Toys have been less utilised since Covid because of the additional cleaning measures required. However this may change as time goes on.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
Visiting zones are in every prison and include waiting rooms and children's corners or play areas. legislatively regulate the minimum equipment of waiting rooms
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
Possible on all units. Swedish and Swiss children groups has been asked a wish list for their visits and these lists have been transmitted to the local authorities
Country
Norway
Status
Not Applicable
Comments
It is enshrined in the Execution of Sentences Act that the prison shall create the conditions for visits by children to be carried out in a gentle manner. The guidelines state that child visits must be carried out in child-friendly visiting rooms or other suitable premises, among other things there should be offers of toys / games adapted to different age levels.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
The visiting and, where appropriate, waiting areas of correctional facilities must be designed in a child-friendly manner. The information materials already available or to be acquired in accordance with Recommendation No. 15 must be made available in these areas. Visits in the vicinity of the detention facility shall be made possible within the framework of measures to open up the prison. Children's chairs, special visiting rooms for parent-child encounters with play boxes. In the family visit room there are instant cameras and children are given a photo with the father (because usually there are no other pictures of the father for the years of imprisonment).
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
Visits always take place inside the establishment. Many initiatives exist to make these visits as less as traumatic as possible for the child (signposted routes with animals for example, areas dedicated to children in the waiting rooms and visiting rooms, equipped play areas, board games available, etc.).
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
There is a room with games and children friendly material at the hall of each prison so that children feel welcome and comfortable. Fathers who wish to strengthen their bonds with their children can be granted family leaves in external facilities to this end. There are NGO's who support such family leaves.
21. Measures should be taken to ensure that the visit context is respectful to the child’s dignity and right to privacy, including facilitating access and visits for children with special needs.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
If the visits are not supervised there are taking place in privat visiting rooms. The staff can ask about the visit on the way out and make sure that the contact is in the best interest of the child.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
The recommendation has already been implemented with regard to respect for the dignity of the child. Prisons should design the framework conditions and organisational procedures for visits in such a way as to facilitate visits and access to the prison, especially for children with impairments and special needs. Visiting rooms that are furnished and designed in a child-friendly manner offer the opportunity to respect the dignity of the child and his or her right to privacy in a particularly suitable manner, as well as to strengthen the intimacy of the family and an undisturbed relationship. Special children's visiting rooms for family visits. Child-friendly equipment in the visiting rooms (play corner, children's furniture, baby chairs) as well as in the sanitary rooms (toilet seat and a kick for small children and disinfection material)
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Almost all prisons have disabled access to the visitor zones
Country
Belgium
Status
Not Applicable
Comments
In Belgium the website of the Federal Public Service of Justice is accessible to people with a disability. It obtained an Any Surfer Label, a quality label for accessible websites
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Measures taken and procedures always facilitate the access and visits according to the needs of the child with special needs. Full compliance with the article (21).
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Each and every prison institute has a child friendly visiting room, or an area created for this purpose.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
The prison is cognisant of special needs requirements in general.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
The prison is cognisant of special needs requirements in general. For children with special needs arrangements are made incidentally.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
The visit context are build in a child-friendly manner. Facilitating access and visits for children with special needs is in new prison organized in accordance with the general standards. In older prison, there are shortcomings in the visiting facilities for eg. wheelchair users. In Norway, some prisons have their own visitorhouse/apartments that are adapted to stays with children and young people with accommodation. They are also adapted for disabled children and adults.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
FCOs are the first point of contact where special needs require to be considered and addressed Training for staff on learning difficulties and disabilities awareness is to be rolled out to all SPS staff. Families can discuss with Family Contact Officers their child’s Additional Support Needs (ASN) in respect of visits. Staff can support families in different ways, for example using ‘exceptional visits’ as a first visit, or talking through issues of sensory needs (such as child requiring a comforter during a visit). Children and young people with ASN will be considered more explicitly in the revised family strategy to ensure that families are aware of what support the SPS can offer them to best meet their child’s needs.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
Almost all prisons have disabled access to the visitor zones and of course the prison is cognisant of special needs requirements in general.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Family visits take place in separate rooms with privacy for the family. The staff can ask the child about the visit on the way out and make sure that the contact is in the best interest of the child. The family visits rooms are equipped with educational material as well as blackboards. Some prisons can also provide complementary educational support for the children of inmates. The visitors' zone in all prisons comply with all the accessibility requirements for visitors with reduced mobility.
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
In case of visits with children with special needs, the spaces for organizing the visits with minors can be used.
Country
Croatia
Status
Yes
Comments
In Croatia, prison staff help guests with special needs, adapting the environment to allow for accessible prison visits or cooperating with the Association of Deaf and Blind when necessary.
22. When a child’s parent is imprisoned far away from home, visits shall be arranged in a flexible manner, which may include allowing prisoners to combine their visit entitlements.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
See article 18 about special apartments, they can also be used for longer day visits.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
In order to be able to actively inform visitors about the possibilities of flexible visitation, prison staff should be able to inform visitors as well as prisoners about this.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Family visits can last from 3 till 14 hours and must be requested by the occupant. There is also the option of being transferred to another prison for 1 to 2 weeks as a passerby in order to receive a visit. However, this depends on the general capacity of the prisons and is therefore not always possible.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Arrangements are made in a flexible manner for those who live away from prisons and for those who live abroad and they will visit the prison facilities. Full compliance with the article (22).
Country
Hungary
Status
No
Comments
Visiting hours of one month can be combined. It was suspended due to covid. After covid it will be reinstated, and with regards to foreign nationals, visitors are allowed out of turn, they do not need to request an appointment (considering the fact that they have traveled for this opportunity)
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
In these circumstances prisoner are allowed to book extra visiting slots to enable longer visits.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
In these circumstances prisoner are allowed to book extra visiting slots to enable longer visits.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
In these circumstances prisoner are allowed to book extra visiting slots to enable longer visits.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
In these circumstances prisoner are allowed to book extra visiting slots to enable longer visits.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Accumulated visits are available; Virtual Visits had been taking place in some areas (Aberdeen & Inverness), but these are now in place in all establishments following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
In these situations, the social worker would issue a report asserting that the inmate's family leaves abroad or far away from the prison and proposing more flexibility for the visits' scheduling. In all prisons it is possible to book additional visiting rooms that can host longer visits (up to 3 hours). In addition, the Motivational Assessment System includes the scheduling of video calls for all inmates and particularly for foreign nationals.
23. Any security checks on children shall be carried out in a child-friendly manner that respects children’s dignity and right to privacy, as well as their right to physical and psychological integrity and safety. Any intrusive searches on children, including body cavity searches, shall be prohibited.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
Concern is taken to the child and hand detector with toys can be used.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
Disrobing and body cavity searches are generally not carried out in Germany. A child-friendly approach within the framework of security checks must be ensured. This requires the training and sensitisation of the staff responsible for this. It makes sense for the family members to involve independent institutions to plan, organise and extend the visiting situation.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Security Screening and security checks on children are being carried out in a child-friendly manner. Body cavity searches is prohibited.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Security checks are carried out by trained staff in a very child-friendly manner. Full compliance with the article (23).
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
The Hungarian Prison Code (Act CCXL/2013) regulates – with details – the security measures to be taken. It puts great emphasis on a child’s dignity and right to privacy.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS policy on Security Screening reflects this.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Search is allowed by a person of the same sexe and with respect for the child.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
N/A
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
Security Screening reflects this but is not regulated
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Searches on children are light touch and carried out with respect for a child’s dignity.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The entry process for children is conducted in a way adjusted to their age and personal circumstances. It always respects the children's right to dignity and privacy. Security checks are carried out by trained staff in a very child-friendly manner.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
Search is allowed by a person of the same sex and with respect for the child. Hand detectors can be used.
24. Any searches of prisoners prior to visits shall be conducted in a manner which respects their human dignity in order to enable them to interact positively with their children during visits. As far as possible, children shall be authorised to leave the visiting area prior to the imprisoned parent, as this can be traumatic for some children. Where prisoners are provided with clothes by prison authorities, this clothing shall not offend their dignity, particularly during visits with their children.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
Security check is not in front of the child.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
Taking into account the safety aspects, it should be examined with regard to the recommendation how the organisational procedures for ending visits can be adapted. In the context of training, the responsible staff should also be made aware of what kind of (private) clothing (e.g. skulls and horror symbols, slogans, etc.) - is not appropriate for children.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
N/A
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
We apply fully the provisions of art.24
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
The articles of Prison Code on clothing do take into consideration the preservation of dignity. No searched of prisoners are carried out in front of visitors.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS clothing policy reflect the dignity of the prisoner and searches are not carried out in front of visitors.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Clothing policy reflect the dignity of the prisoner and searches are not carried out in front of visitors. If possible prisoners can take a shower before receiving visitors.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Same as Ireland
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
In the prison system units, inmates wear only civil outfits and not a uniform imposed by the penitentiary administration.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
Clothing policy reflect the dignity of the prisoner and searches are not carried out in front of visitors.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Rub down search takes place when leaving residential area. Clothing is suitable and does not offend dignity. Family Strategy groups raising the matter of visitors exiting before prisoners, security permitting.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The Prison Regulations do not allow to do any search of the inmate in front of the visitors. Inmates can have a shower before attending their family visit. The Prison Regulations establish that staff will always inform the visitors and the inmate before the visit time is over, so that they have sufficient time to say goodbye. The visitors will leave the room first and the inmate afterwards.
25. In accordance with national law and practice, the use of information and communication technology (video-conferencing, mobile and other telephone systems, internet, including webcam and chat functions, etc.) shall be facilitated between face-to-face visits and should not involve excessive costs. Imprisoned parents shall be assisted with the costs of communicating with their children if their means do not allow it. These means of communication should never be seen as an alternative which replaces face-to-face contact between children and their imprisoned parents.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
Free phone calls once a week is offered although the inmate can call on their expense more often. Video calls (skype) are offered but how often vary on different units
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
For the development of relationships between children and their imprisoned parents, personal contact should be promoted as a matter of priority. Prisons should provide information and communication technology services to supplement visitation contacts. The necessity of communication between parents and children generally justifies the assumption of costs in case of need. Germany provides in some federal states (Laender) free video telephony as an alternative or to complement personal visits. Multifunctional devices (detention room media system) in detention rooms.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
The video conference technology has been massively increased in the last months in order to enable visual contact despite the visitors restrictions.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Article 25 is fully implemented. The costs for phone calls is on the inmate. However, we provide free, telecards to inmates who have financial scarcity. There is no cost on inmate for other alternative means of communication like video conferencing (SKYPE). The use of SKYPE is an alternative means of communication since January 2015.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Possibility of video calls is available for prisoners. This does not count as face-to-face visit, not does it lower the allowed timeframe. In the Framework of Digital Wellbeing Program, those families have the possibility to use video-calls, who does not own the necessary equipment. The Hungarian Prison Service Headquarters created end-points/connection points throughout the country, where relatives can go after setting an appointment.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Video visits are widely used and provide another avenue of family contact. There is scope to expand the ICT offering in Prisons to enhance family contact. Most prisoners now have in-cell telephony and can make their call phone calls at any time.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Skype video calls are used as visits but mostly for foreign national prisoners and inter prison visits, and during the corona crisis on a regular basis.Skype is possible in most prisons 1x weekly. NGOs have chatpossibilities with families and children
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
IPADs are used for familes and the children have first priority. In Norway, 800 IPADs have been purchased that function as a videophone and which the prisoner can call their children from their cell. The scheme is regulated as an uncontrolled visit by family. The scheme is in addition to ordinary visits.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
According to the legislation in force, inmates have the right to benefit on-line conversations with the family members, including with the children who are at a distance from the detention unit. Phone calls can be made with no restrictions, the units having phones placed in areas accessible for the incarcerated persons.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
Skype video calls began to be used as visits during the corona crisis. Skype is possible in all prisons 20 min. per month.
Country
Switzerland
Status
Yes
Comments
In Switzerland, REPR provided a “Guide for Skype with Children from prison” to all prisons working with this type of technology, also available for all families.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
As above - virtual visits now in place at no cost to individual Phone calls initiated by prisoners. Costs kept as low as possible
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
With few exceptions, each prisoner has a telephone in his cell to ensure contact with his relatives. However, he must bear the cost himself. The prisoner can call upon various support services to contact his children if he cannot afford to do so. Prisoners with no income and no financial resources can also receive material financial assistance (amounts vary from prison to prison). Since the COVID 19 health crisis, virtual visits have been organized (at least 20 minutes per week but each prison offers different services according to its reality).
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
Currently there are cell phones and tablets in all prisons for inmates to communicate with their families via video call. Video calls are scheduled by the Prison Treatment Teams according to the requirements foreseen by the Motivational Assessment System and are not managed by the prison staff responsible for the family visits. The scheduling of the video calls is complementary to the actual visits and have no cost for the inmate. The Prison Social Services count on a protocol to be followed for the scheduling of video calls between an inmate and their underage children when they are also serving a custodial measure in a juvenile justice centre.
26. Rules for making and receiving telephone calls and other forms of communication with children shall be applied flexibly to maximise communication between imprisoned parents and their children. When feasible, children should be authorised to initiate telephone communications with their imprisoned parents.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
No
Comments
Free phone calls once a week is offered although the inmate can call on their expense more often. Video calls (skype) are offered but how often vary on different units. In Sweden, following acceptance of an application, prisoners are allowed fifteen minutes of free calls with an extra five minutes per child each week
Country
Germany
Status
No
Comments
Telephony and other technical means of communication facilitate the children's contact with their imprisoned parent. Efforts should be made to create these possibilities in all prisons. To this end, structural and information technology changes are necessary in the prisons in order to create a communication solution that is independent of time - also on the initiative of the children - for example by setting up detention room telephony systems.
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
At this point of time, for children it is not possible to initiate telephone calls with their imprisoned parents. So far, no solution has been considered.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Inmates have unlimited access to phone calls between 08:00 - 20:30 hours, daily. Thus, they can contact their children daily during this period of time as manytimes as they wish.
Country
Hungary
Status
No
Comments
Access to telephone is uni-lateral: only the inmate can start the outgoing call through the cell-phone equipped with security system. Change of current legislation is necessary
Country
Ireland
Status
Partly
Comments
Telephone access is one way and initiated by the prisoner on a secure system. A pilot program allowing incoming calls is completed and under review. 
Country
Netherlands
Status
No
Comments
Telephone access is one way and initiated by the prisoner on a secure system. In all prisons a digital post service is available (besides normal postservice): children can sent a message to their imprisoned parent any time.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Telephone access is one way and initiated by the inmates who call their children according to the telephone time per week. The children can also call in, but then they must call through the guard center and the prison officer must ask the inmate to call again. However, it is possible to call the child coordinator directly. And has become a permanent measure - not a substitute for physical visits but additions.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Telephone access is one way and initiated by the prisoner on a secure system. Children can not call in.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Top up pin phones can be requested. Family can request prisoners to make contact Children cannot call into a prison.
Country
Belgium
Status
No
Comments
It is impossible for a child to initiate telephone communication with an incarcerated parent. Cell phones cannot be reached from outside the prison. It is always the prisoner who must initiate the contact.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
Currently only the inmate can make the calls and on a phone equipped with a security system. During the timeframes that phone calls are allowed, inmates can make calls without limitation. When the inmate's family situation requires, the social worker can issue a report requesting for an additional call without cost for a particular inmate. Social workers also assess whether the inmate needs economic support to cover the cost of the monthly phone cards.
Country
Romania
Status
No
Comments
Telephone access is one way and initiated by the prisoner on a secure system. Children can not call in.
27. Arrangements should be made to facilitate an imprisoned parent, who wishes to do so, to participate effectively in the parenting of their children, including communicating with school, health and welfare services and taking decisions in this respect, except in cases where it is not in the child’s best interests.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Comments
Communication with the school or other services can be arranged if needed but it is on the inmates responsibility
Country
Germany
Status
No
Comments
The prisons should provide offers of moderation, mediation, accompaniment and support for imprisoned parents to exercise their participation in parental care for the benefit of the child. If necessary, structural conditions should be created to involve youth welfare authorities and/or independent agencies. The responsibility also lies with the social and family ministries and, if necessary, with civil society organisations.
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
The communication with the school or (social and health) services is generally the responsibility of that person, who has custody of the child(ren). There is no concrete plan yet.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
We make the necessary arrangements for the effective participation of the imprisoned parent in the parenting of his/her child, when it is in the best interest of the child. Full compliance with the provisions of the article 27.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
With the inclusion of prison-psychologist, inmates have the possibility to do so, during “family – decision making group programmes
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Social Workers have access to prisoners who wish to discuss their children. Prisoners are brought to family law cases when appropriate.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
In all prisons there are training courses ‘My child and I’ and especially for detained mothers also the licensed training ‘Better Start”. A specific project called Family Approach started in two prisons to stimulate imprisoned fathers to take their role as a father seriously and to improve their educational skills. Motivated fathers are placed in a special ‘father’s wing’ where they have a special day programme with many facilities to participate in the parenting of their children. A handbook is made to implement the working method of the family approach in other prisons.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
Social Workers have access to prisoners who wish to discuss their children. Prisoners are brought to family law cases when appropriate
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
In normal circumstances parenting programmes exist as per Article 41; Family Contact Officers are available to provide support in contact and any issues Top up pin phones can be requested; Telephone calls are reasonably priced for communication. A process is in place to add and remove telephone numbers for calls Children’s events normally take place each year. This will also be featured more strongly in the review of the family strategy, with a view to utilising digital platforms to allow parents to attend parents’ evenings etc where appropriate to do so.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
A variety of support or mentoring services for inmates offer such arrangements. However, these offers are insufficient. Sometimes there are long waiting times for care.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Inmates with children who are willing to strengthen their role as parents, are involved in the design of family activities and in the implementation of other projects such as complementary education support for their children, meetings with the teacher of their child, undergoing positive parenthood programmes or attending their children medical appointment when possible within the serving of the sentence. The prison social workers (family liaison officer) liaise between the prison, the inmates' families and the community social services.
28. Child-parent activities should include extended prison visits for special occasions (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, end of year holidays, etc.) and other visits to further the child-parent relationship, in addition to regular visits. Consideration on such occasions should be given to prison and other staff in visiting areas being dressed less formally, in an effort to normalise the atmosphere.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
No
Comments
No, there are no special arrangements these days.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
Individual family-related occasions are to be actively supported and already existing visit opportunities are to be exhausted. A pleasant visiting atmosphere should be created, which contributes to a stabilisation of the contact experience. A friendly design of the visiting rooms and relaxed service dress regulations for the visiting service on these occasions can contribute to a conducive climate. It is also desirable that visiting opportunities also exist on selected public and religious holidays. Family days, parent-child days and summer parties are often organized in Germany’s prisons. Some offer also special afternoons and Christmas parties without uniforms. Germany’s prisons hold special events for prisoners and their children such as: Christmas baking in the prison bakery, puppet theatre, magic shows, etc
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
Not generally, but in individual cases In some prisons (Wien-simmering), there are occasional efforts to arrange parent-child visits but which do not take place regularly due to capacity reasons. project from the prison “sonnberg”: “I will read a story for you”: fathers read stories and record them on video, the videos are e.g. sent for Christmas or her birthday project from the prison “Wien-Josefstadt”: gifts for small children were bought through the psychological service and the mothers were able to present these gifts for christmas
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
In addition to extended prison visits on special occasions like Christmas time, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Children’s Day, we organize events for activities with the children with their imprisoned parents (indoor and outdoor children events). Further, we organize other events during the year for strengthening the child-parent bond, in cases where possible we allow home leaves during special occasions etc.
Country
Hungary
Status
No
Comments
When issuing the visiting permission, officers take into consideration the special occasions (for women the Mother's day, international women’s day family visits are allowed). These visits are counted in the legal timeframe. It was suspended due to covid currently.
Country
Ireland
Status
No
Comments
Not specifically at present This can be done through the prison community based Red Cross where family days are already a feature for graduations of course participants.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
On special occasions like the monthly parent-child-detention days, events like mother/father days, Sinterklaas (Santa) and Christmas the atmosphere is informal, although for security reasons staff must be recognized as staff (in case of disasters or mistaken identities), especially in bigger events.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Children are given high priority on the visit list and visits are granted according to capacity. If leave is not possible then prisons (according to various restrictions) arrange for extra visits in connection with anniversaries, especially the child's own birthday, but also other celebrations and important days.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
Specific activities involving the interaction between children and parents in custody are organized for various events (June 1st, March 8th, Christmas etc.). The prison institutions have concluded partnerships with nongovernmental organizations/foundations/associations whose activity consists of providing support both to the persons in custody and to the children experiencing difficult existential moments (children with parents in detention being included in this category). Examples: - Christian Men Association has unfolded A day with father/ A day with mother projects aiming at strengthening and maintaining the relationship with the family with a view to decreasing the potential negative effects of incarceration both upon the persons incarcerated by the prison system and their family members, especially upon the children; - SVASTA Foundation – Close to you on the way to school which involved providing scholarships to the children whose parents were in detention (during 2015-2019, 348 scholarships offered to the children); - Save the Children Organization – collaboration aiming at reviewing the programme for developing parental abilities – My child and I; - Terre des Hommes is currently unfolding PRECISION Project, whose beneficiaries are the children coming from the protection system and who are deprived of liberty.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
not allowed, visit intervals are set by law
Country
Switzerland
Status
Not Applicable
Comments
Relais Enfants Parents offers special visits for children on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas in French prisons;
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Events take place as laid down in the family strategy; Children specific visits are available; Parenting courses as per Article 41; Staff uniform issues only to be considered at special events.
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
External services (such as the Relais Enfant-Parent) in some prisons organize special visits for Father's Day, Mother's Day, St. Nicholas, Easter, etc. Some of these visits are supervised only by staff from these services and are therefore dressed in civilian clothes and not in uniform.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Historically, the "Family Day", the "Father's/Mother's day" and Christmas have always been celebrated in the prisons. The Parental Responsibility Group organises participatory family visits with increased frequency and quality in order to foster family bonds. NGO's may participate in such activities by playing music, theatre, magic tricks, etc. When family activities are organised inside the prison, the prison security staff are dressed with their regular uniform.
29. Children shall be offered the opportunity, when feasible and in the child’s best interests, and with the support of an appropriate adult, to visit or receive information (including images) about areas in which their imprisoned parent spends time, including the parent’s prison cell.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes And No
Comments
Not from the inmates cell but the website with special information for children, show pictures from places in prison. But no personal pictures
Country
Germany
Status
No
Comments
Without child-friendly education, children tend to imagine their parents' living conditions in prison to be worse than they really are. If they are given information in a sensitive way, their fears and worries can be reduced.1 Visual aids and child-friendly information should be available to give children of detainees an impression of their parent's daily life in prison. In suitable settings, children can exceptionally gain insights into the parent's living environment.
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
However, it is planned to create a folder for children who come for a visit to a prison the first time. This folder could contain exemplary pictures of the cells, other prisoners rooms and daily prison life. This could provide children of imprisoned parents an insight into prison life.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
It does not happen often, but yes it did happen several times. Female inmates can spend time with their children on Mother’s day in block and outdoor area of female inmates. Indeed, it proved that had a positive impact and effect on their children as they visited their mothers and had the whole day with them; they saw how and where they spend their day and where they sleep, they had lunch with them and later on sweets, quality time by playing games, karaoke, danced, and any other activities they wished. Similar activities took place in the male areas but the children did not visit their cells (3-hour events, indoor and outdoor events). We had only one request from inmate for such visit and we involved the MHServices who advised that this visit and time with his father will have a positive effect on the child. And indeed, it had positive impact on the child that visit. In any event, there was positive effect on children, but at the end of the events they get emotional and they want to stay more with their imprisoned parents, especially the children between the ages 4- 12 years old.
Country
Hungary
Status
No
Comments
Current security regulations do not allow to do so.
Country
Ireland
Status
No
Comments
This should be included as part of the communication pillar for the local leads on Family interventions.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
As part of the family approach it is occasionally possible for children to visit areas in which their imprisoned father spends time, including the prison cell. A virtual tour is given in special information films for children.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Arrangements are made for, and encouraged contact between the inmate and child. In addition, family day, father and children activities are organized as part of the rehabilitation program.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Not regulated by current legislation we are considering publishing an information brochure
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
No visits to rooms. Local Induction processes are in place; Family Strategy groups are developing booklets across all establishments. There are pictures of cell area and halls that can be given to children and families upon request,however we do not provide photos of all areas within the prison where a parent may go. There are video clips of visiting processes etc to assist in children’s understanding.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
Improvements need to be made in this regard in a more structural way. There are only a few local initiatives.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
The Coexistence and Participation Programme foresees the possibility for family members to visit the inmates' residential units in order to understand how they lives in prison. Such visit also includes a visit to the cells. Children cannot visit the inmates' residential units however, family activities allow the children to visit other prison facilities such and other prison facilities such as the school, the theatre, the library, the gym, the pool (in some of the prisons).
30. Special measures shall be taken to encourage and enable imprisoned parents to maintain regular and meaningful contact and relations with their children, thus safeguarding their development. Restrictions imposed on contact between prisoners and their children shall be implemented only exceptionally, for the shortest period possible, in order to alleviate the negative impact the restriction might have on children and to protect their right to an emotional and continuing bond with their imprisoned parent.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
The SPPS policy is to allow not to restrict children’s access to parents. If it is restricted it is because contact is not in the best interest for the child or their may be security concerns.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
Specific measures to strengthen the competence and motivation of imprisoned parents to fulfil their role and tasks in the relationship with their children must be provided. If necessary, these should be actively offered to the prisoners in motivational individual talks and anchored in the prison planning. Parents in prison should be encouraged to fulfil their role and tasks as far as possible. When deciding on sanctions, the child's right to contact should be taken into account. If possible, sanctions that restrict contact with the child should be interrupted or avoided. Some Laender in Germany offer weekend excursions, week seminars, guided parent discussion groups, guided parent-child groups, father-child-seminars, communal and social-spatial standard offer of family support and parental education. Instructed handling of new media, online games and social networks by parents and children have been installed as well as preparation and follow-up of visits of family groups, workshop series for mothers/fathers to prepare for parenting skills. There is also a prison which offers a project to strengthen the parent-child competence of radicalized parents
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
Family visits, also other privileges of prisoners, are close connected to the behavior. Negative behavior of an inmate usually could lead to restrictions of contact with relatives. A discussion with the head of the prisons and decision makers seems to be required.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Art.30 is fully applied and only in exceptional cases the visits are screened face-to-face. In 5 years’ time it happened only once, for a male inmate to have a two-week screened visit.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Current security regulations allow contact between parents and their children. Limitations of contact is allowed only by the decision of the relevant authority, or in case of security issues, by the decision of the prison governor.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS policy is to allow not to restrict children’s access to parents
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
It is policy not to restrict children’s access to parents but to encourage the contact between imprisoned parents and their children.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Slovak prison system policy is to allow not to restrict children’s access to parents but restrictions on contact between prisoners and their children shall be applied in the same way as to other people
Country
Switzerland
Status
Not Applicable
Comments
Swiss prisons in Geneva, Vaud and Fribourg organize with the NGO REPR summer holiday special visit and Christmas visits
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Loss of access to visits is not part of the sanctions for prisoner behaviour. Closed visit policy in place and review periods are case by case.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The policy informing the scheduling of family visits aims at maximising the possibilities for the inmates who are parents to receive visits from their children except for those situations where it is not possible for security reasons or to comply with a court decision. When an inmate is allocated in a closed regime special unit, some restrictions to visit apply, however, it psychoeducative interventions with the inmate are implemented in order to favour the inmate's return to the regular life regime as soon as possible.
31. A child’s right to direct contact shall be respected, even in cases where disciplinary sanctions or measures are taken against the imprisoned parent. In cases where security requirements are so extreme as to necessitate non-contact visits, additional measures shall be taken to ensure that the child-parent bond is supported.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
If it is not harmful for the child visits or phone calls may be allowed.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
If it is necessary to restrict outside contact for reasons of safety and order, a special examination is required as to how (e.g. also professionally accompanied visits without other relatives, video telephony, special telephone calls) the children's right of contact can be guaranteed.
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
The massive development of using video conference technology during the corona crisis could also be adopted in case of security concerns
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
For disciplinary penalties we have the policy to impose other penalties than confinement. Only in exceptional cases for serious disciplinary offences like escape we impose confinement, but even during that period every 10 days, the inmate has the right for one visit face-to-face and 1 phone call. This happened once. In other cases we impose other disciplinary penalties which do not deprive the visits.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Limitation of contact can be imposed only as the strictest disciplinary punishment/sanction, for the duration of solidary confinement. In case of using any other disciplinary sanction, contact is not limited.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
It is policy to allow another adult to bring the child on a normal visit where a screened visit sanction has been imposed on a visitor. The prisoner’s responsibility not to subvert access to his child is also a consideration here.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
It is policy to allow another adult to bring the child on a normal visit where a screened visit sanction has been imposed on a visitor. The prisoner’s responsibility not to subvert access to his child is also a consideration here.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Inmates can Skype with the kids. In general, inmates can apply for additional extra phone time when they have children. All measures are related to the child's best interests, their wishes and needs.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
the visit during the disciplinary punishments is carried out without direct contact
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Children’s visits support this process Closed visit policy.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
Family visits are always allowed except for when the inmate is placed in temporary confinement. Otherwise, all scheduled family visits and other related communication rights will not be limited even if a disciplinary sanction has been imposed.
32. With a view to protecting children from the frequently harsh prison environment, preparing them for their parent’s return, and having their parents present at significant events in their lives, home leave for prisoners should be granted and facilitated, where possible. This is especially important during the period before their release, providing more opportunities for them to prepare for resuming fully their parental role and its responsibilities on release.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes And No
Comments
While release planning is in place the main focus is on the safe reintegration of the prisoner to society although children can be considered in the planning of the temporary release
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
The legal prerequisites for implementation are in place nationwide and should also be exhausted in practice to strengthen the parental role.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Either as part of probation ordered by the judge or as an optional offer of the Verein Neustart (probation service). Since about 10 years, there is also the opportunity for inmates to participate in so-called release groups inside the prisons.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
During special events as provided by Law, the inmate can attend significant family events, with a home leave or a transfer with or without escort, depending on several factors according to the relevant regulations.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Prior to release, the prison might grant the right of prison-leave upon official request, but when assessing this possibility, the most important factor is the goal of reintegration (aid of finances, accommodation, healthcare, etc.)
Country
Ireland
Status
No
Comments
While release planning is in place the focus is on the safe reintegration of the prisoner to society in general terms i.e. Financial, housing and medical needs. The release policy needs to include a reference to family reintegration to include the voice of the child. The Family Liaison Officer is the required resource here.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
While release planning is in place the focus is on the safe reintegration of the prisoner to society in general terms i.e. financial, housing and medical needs. Besides working on a stable family contact and a supporting social network are important factors of safe reintegration.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Same as Ireland
Country
Slovakia
Status
Partly
Comments
Governor can due to an urgent family reason, mainly in case of decease of a close person or birth of a child, permit the prisoners a prison leave up to five days
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Opportunities for Special escorted Leave (SEL’s), Unescorted Leave (UEL’s) or Home leave are all considered from National Top End facilities and the Open Estate as part of progression towards release. There are specific information booklets and leaflets on the theme of “coming Home”. These cover home detention curfew (HDC), home leave etc. The leaflets are available within Visitor Centres, in establishments and through Families Outside.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
Prison leaves are a means of intervention for prison staff to work with the inmate in preparation for their return to the community and the family and community networks. The Individual Treatment Plan sets different types of goals for reintegration in society and victim protection.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
The permission to exit the penitentiary may be granted out, in the following cases: the presentation of the sentenced person, to fill a job after release, the sentenced person going through an examination, the maintaining of family relationships of the sentenced person, the preparing for the social reintegration of the sentenced person, the participation of the sentenced person to the burial of a spouse, child, parent, brother or sister or grandfather or grandmother
33. To ensure child protection and well-being, every effort shall be made to enhance mutual respect and tolerance and prevent potentially harmful behaviour between prisoners, their children and families, prison staff or other persons working in or visiting the prison. Good order, safety and security, in particular dynamic security, underpin all efforts to maintain a friendly and positive atmosphere in prison.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
Child training is given to all staff both basic and special training for some staff.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
Staff, visitors and prisoners are aware of their role model function towards children in behaviour and interaction. The guiding principles of the facilities should focus on the well-being of the children. Positive interaction with each other should be the culture of the institution. The implementation must start with the staff (education and training) as well as with the prisoners (treatment measures). The temporary presence of children in prisons can make an additional contribution to security and order in the prison as well as to the resocialisation of prisoners, especially those with children.
Country
Austria
Status
Partly
Comments
Yes partly but it always depends on the involved people and whether there is a positive atmosphere in the prisonIn order to create a stable, friendly and positive atmosphere in prisons as well as having the conviction of the importance of these measures, specialised trainings for prison staff should be institutionalised.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
The last almost 8 years we invest a lot in the training of the staff, as a learning organisation, targeting on dynamic security, and in creating a learning environment in prisons for staff and inmates, so as to ensure the well-being of the inmates and of their children, and in building positive staff-inmate relationships.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
A Code of conduct (~Code of Ethics) has been issued to make sure that the staff members participating in guarding the imprisoned people is carrying out their work in a responsible, ethical manner with following the values and norms.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Child protection training is provide to all operational prison staff. A reporting mechanism is in place where Child safety issues can be raised with a Designated Liaison Person.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Child protection training is provide to all operational prison staff. A reporting mechanism is in place where Child safety issues can be raised with a Designated Liaison Person.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
The Prison and Probation Service's policy is that all inmates, children, relatives etc should meet with respect and dignity. All units have a child coordinator who is also responsible for ensuring that children's encounters with prison are as good as possible.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
Treatment of prisoners is a complex of activities the purpose of which is to ensure the exercise of rights and duties according to Act in a differentiated way, support and develop the sense for responsibility, abiding laws and social norms, positive personal characteristics, respect to others, self-respect and positive relation to family.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
New child protection policy in place 2019; New eLearning package being developed for all staff with SPS College; Visit rooms maintain a friendly atmosphere. Fostering good relationships is fundamental to the SPS ethos and practices. The children’s visits scheme involves checks by prison based social workers and community based social workers to ensure the safety of children. The SPS child protection policy is being updated in line with other policies.
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
The issue of dynamic security is a central concern and is a course of action expected by all hierarchical authorities.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
All staff shall comply with the guiding principles laid down in the Code of Ethics for Professionals working in Criminal Enforcement Services (Codi Ètic dels Professionals de l’Execució Penal a Catalunya). They should always act with respect and tolerance and provide a welcoming environment for the inmates and their families.
34. In order to ensure the right of a child to the highest attainable standard of health, appropriate pre-natal and post-natal health care, support and information shall be provided for imprisoned mothers. Pregnant women shall be allowed to give birth in a hospital outside prison. Instruments of restraint shall never be used on women during labour, during birth and immediately after birth. Arrangements and facilities for pre-natal and post-natal care in prison shall respect, as far as practicable, cultural diversity.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
SPPS is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
All prisoners in prison have a right to necessary, sufficient and appropriate medical care, oriented to the benefits of the statutory health insurance; this also includes benefits in case of pregnancy and maternity. Childbirth outside the prison and the renunciation of coercive means during childbirth is the prison standard. Children receive the medical care they need in hospital and in prison. As a rule, cultural particularities are taken into account as far as possible. The responsibility lies equally with the health ministries.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
In accordance to the principle of equivalence, health care is guaranteed for all inmates the same way as for people in liberty. There are particular mother-child-departments in some prisons.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Article 34 is fully implemented as described in the content of the article.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
The Dutch Prison service (DJI) is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
NAP fully applies the recommendation in this article.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
SPS is compliant with this recommedation
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
GMA that stipulates no handcuffing.
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
A close collaboration is set up between the women's neighborhoods that take in babies and the ONE (Office National de l'Enfance). Each pregnant mother receives close medical care and multidisciplinary monitoring from the ONE as soon as she arrives at the prison. Pregnant moms as well as moms and their babies stay in neighborhoods adapted to their specific needs. The cells are also specifically arranged.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The Secretariat complies with this article. With regard to cultural diversity, prison staff shall follow the recommendations and good practices included in the Guide on the Respect to Diversity of Beliefs in Prisons in Catalonia (Guia al respecte a la diversitat de creences als centres penitenciaris de Catalunya).
35. A child born to an imprisoned mother shall be registered and issued with a birth certificate without delay, free of charge and in line with applicable national and international standards. The birth certificate shall not mention that the child was born in prison.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
SPPS is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
The notification of a child to the registry office is carried out according to the legal basis or the respective execution business regulations without reference to the detention of the mother.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
N/A
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
The issuing of the birth certificate fall into the competence of another Governmental Department. Prisons help the imprisoned mother to register her new-born child. Prisons have also provided help for DNA testing of the fathers as this was for the best interest of the child.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
DJI is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
Birth is given in a hospital outside the detention place and the birth certificates have no mentions about the mother being an inmate
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
In SPS we have not unit of mothers with children at all
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
New Mother & Baby Policy now in place; No address on the birth certificate is identifiable as a prison.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The Secretariat complies with this article. A child born to an imprisoned mother is registered and a birth certificate is issued which does not mention than the child is born in a prison.
36. Infants may stay in prison with a parent only when it is in the best interests of the infant concerned and in accordance with national law. Relevant decisions to allow infants to stay with their parent in prison shall be made on a case-by-case basis. Infants in prison with a parent shall not be treated as prisoners and shall have the same rights and, as far as possible, the same freedoms and opportunities as all children.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
SPPS is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
The guarantee of the best interests of the child when a child is placed in a correctional institution is implemented in principle by involving the competent youth welfare office and, if necessary, the consent of the person or persons entitled to determine the child's place of residence. Children who live with their imprisoned parent in a correctional institution are not treated as prisoners; care is taken to ensure an environment suitable for young children. Their development is promoted according to the guidelines of youth welfare.Likewise, the responsibility lies with the social and family ministries.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
If its the benefit of the child, it can stay with their mothers in particular mother-child-departements up to the age of 3 years.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
According to the Law, the Director may permit an infant of a female inmate to stay with her new-born child in prisons for as long as the breast feeding lasts and following the Medical officer’s instructions. The stay may be extended for 1 year. The extension of stay of the infant more than one or two years, this can be approved only with a court decision. All the costs for the baby and its stay in prisons burdens prison budget
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS is compliant with this recommendation. The infant stays with the mother for at least a year. (TBC)
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
DJI is compliant with this recommendation. The infant stays with the mother for 6 months and in exceptional cases 9 months. In one special half-open prison for women it is possible for children to stay with their mother up to the age 4 of which 1 year on a row maximum
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
There are specially dedicated prison wings for females who can raise their up to one-year-old children in case their parental rights have not been revoked.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
In SPS we have not unit of mothers with children at all
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Mother & Baby Policy now in place is in line with this recommendation
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
Decisions regarding the child's continued contact with the incarcerated mother are made in close collaboration between management and the ONE, as well as Youth Services where appropriate. A program is established for the child to attend an external group setting such as a daycare center, school or to spend his or her days in his or her home environment outside. The mother keeps her cell door open all day long and can thus have access with her child to a collective space where there are games (the nursery), to the kitchen to prepare her child's meals and to the outdoor playground.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The mother can request to have her children with her in the prison and the decision is made taking into account the best interest of the child. If the child counts on a family network, will be able to spend the weekends with them. Otherwise the child can spend the weekend with a foster family that voluntarily wish to offer inmates’ children a family environment.
37. Arrangements and facilities for the care of infants who are in prison with a parent, including living and sleeping accommodation, shall be child-friendly and shall: 7 CM/Rec(2018)5 - ensure that the best interests and safety of infants are a primary consideration, as are their rights, including those regarding development, play, non-discrimination and the right to be heard; - safeguard the child’s welfare and promote their healthy development, including provision of ongoing health-care services, and arranging for appropriate specialists to monitor their development in collaboration with community health services; - ensure that infants are able to freely access open-air areas in the prison, and can access the outside world with appropriate accompaniment and attend nursery schools; - promote attachment between a child and their parent, allowing the child-parent relationship to develop as normally as possible, enabling parents to exercise appropriate parental responsibility for their child and providing maximum opportunities for imprisoned parents to spend time with their children; - support imprisoned parents living with their infants and facilitate the development of their parental competency, ensuring that they are provided with opportunities to look after their children, cook meals for them, get them ready for nursery school and spend time playing with them, both inside the prison and in open-air areas; - as far as possible, ensure that infants have access to a similar level of services and support to that which is available in the community, and that the environment provided for such children’s upbringing shall be as close as possible to that of children outside prison; - ensure that contact with the parent, siblings and other family members living outside the prison facility is enabled, except if it is not in the infant’s best interests.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
Where the child stays with the mother the SPPS is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
If children are accommodated in the prison with their imprisoned parent, care is taken to ensure a safe environment suitable for children and to promote the development of the children through the involvement of professionals. As a rule, this is ensured by an operating licence in accordance with § 46 SGB VIII. Regular contact with the family and caregivers as well as child-oriented offers and services outside the prison is guaranteed.Furthermore, the involvement of the health departments appears to be appropriate.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Austrias single prison for women has a kindergarten which children from prisoners and staff use together. As already mentioned above, health care is guaranteed according to the principle of equivalence.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Article 37 is fully implemented
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Where the child stays with the mother the IPS is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Where the child stays with the mother the DJI is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
The specially female prison wings provide the necessary conditions for mothers to be together with the child, benefiting from appropriate endowments: baby beds, kitchenette equipped for preparing the food, giving a bath etc.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
In SPS we have not unit of mothers with children at all
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Mother & Baby Policy now in place is in line with this recommendation
Country
Belgium
Status
Yes
Comments
See article 36
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
In the prisons where there is a Mothers’ Unit, there is also a nursery and a child educator for the children. The prison has also signed a collaboration protocol with a community kindergarten located in the neighborhood near the prison. The prison shall look after the best interest of the child at any time, paying special attention to ensure that his/her development evolves as close as possible to that of children in the community. to normality make his/her life the
38. Decisions as to when an infant is to be separated from their imprisoned parent shall be based on individual assessment and the best interests of the child within the scope of the applicable national law.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
SPPS is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
The decision whether to separate a child from the parent in custody is made on a case-by-case basis with the involvement of the youth welfare office. The social and family departments are also involved.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
n/a
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Please see comment for art.36
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
According to the Prison Code, mother and child can be placed together until the child reaches 1 year of age. Separation before time is carried out only after an individual analysis
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
DJI is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
In SPS we have not unit of mothers with children at all
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Mother and Baby Units and Mother & Baby Case Conferences in place; National Mother & Baby Policy in place is in line with this recommendation
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
According to the law, children under 3 years old can leave the prison at any time. Once they have reached that age, mothers cannot longer have their children in prison and they will live with their family or Child Protection Centre.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
According to the law, mother and child can be placed together until the child reaches 1 year of age. Separation before time is carried out only after an individual analysis.
39. The transition of the infant to life outside prison shall be undertaken with sensitivity, only when suitable alternative care arrangements for the child have been identified and, in the case of foreign-national prisoners, in consultation with consular officials, where appropriate.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
SPPS is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
Implementation is ensured by the concepts of the mother-child facilities. For a sensitive transition, the respective living situation of the child outside of the correctional facility is planned as comprehensively and as long-term as possible with the involvement of the youth welfare office. At the request of the prisoners, the respective consulate is involved if necessary. The social and family departments are also responsible.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
In case of foreign prisoners, the embassy is activated to make appropriate arrangements and handover.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Please see my comment for art. 36. In addition, for foreign nationals, we are in consular consultation only following a written request (consent) of the imprisoned parent.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
DJI is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
In SPS we have not unit of mothers with children at all
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Mother and Baby Units and Mother & Baby Case Conferences in place; Mother & Baby Policy is in line with this recommendation.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The Secretariat complies with this article. The children of foreign nationals without family network in Spain, the children transition to life outside the prison is organised in cooperation with Child Protection Services so that the child will be assigned to a foster family or placed in a residential centre.
40. After infants are separated from their parent in prison and they are placed with family or relatives or in other alternative care, they shall be given the maximum opportunity possible and appropriate facilities to meet with their imprisoned parent, except when it is not in their best interests.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
In SPS we have not unit of mothers with children at all
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
After the separation of a child from the imprisoned parent, the most frequent and flexible visitation possibilities possible are to be ensured in order to be able to continue to maintain family contact, taking into account the best interests of the child. The social and family departments are also addressed.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
As far as possible, an attempt will be made to give the opportunity of the use all the visit options.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
We are in close collaboration with the welfare services that they decide where to place the child, and from our side we facilitate all the meetings of the child with its imprisoned parent, as described in art. 40.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
IPS is compliant with this recommendation
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
DJI is compliant with this recommendation.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
According to the legal proceedings, the persons in custody can be visited by the children, upon the condition the courts of law have not issued any related constraints
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
"Mother and Baby Units and Mother & Baby Case Conferences in place; Mother & Baby Policy in place is in line with this recommendation"
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The child will continue to maintain the bond with their imprisoned parents in the designated areas of the prison except for the case contact is not considered to be in the best interest of the child. The prison social worker will monitor the parent-child encounters with the view of favoring the bond between them. When a child that lives with his/her mother in the Mothers’ Unit, turns 3 years old, and if the criminal process allows, mother and child can be transferred to residential units that belong to the prison system but are located outside the prison.
41. In order to promote positive parenting, consideration shall be given in sentence planning to include programmes and other interventions that support and develop a positive child-parent relationship. Specific support and learning objectives include preserving, and exercising as far as possible, their parental role during imprisonment, minimising the impact of imprisonment on their children, developing and strengthening constructive child-parent relationships, and preparing them and their children for family life after release.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
During the sentence the children of the inmates are considered as for contact and family support f.ex in prison it is possible to attend a parent program. Release planning happens but not specifically for family reasons although it is considered.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
A comprehensive recording of family data (cf. recommendation no. 13), in particular on the children, is a necessary prerequisite for an appropriate assessment of the need for measures and the determination of necessary treatment measures in the correctional plan. The parent-child relationship is to be taken into account in the correctional planning. The current state of the parent-child relationship and the need for support to strengthen the bond must be examined and included in the sentence planning, taking into account the best interests of the child. This also applies in particular to preparation for release, which should, if possible, include a trial of cohabitation within the framework of measures to open up the prison system. The existing forms and standards are to be supplemented with this information if necessary.
Country
Austria
Status
Partly
Comments
"Yes but only in individual cases Once there was a father-training in the prison Graz-Karlau and the association “Männerberatung” offers faather training for fathers in custody with the aim of developing a positive father identity, in the prison Sonnberg video messages from fathers were recorded and sent to their children. Actually, there is an ongoing group for fathers in the prison Garsten. However, these measures are selective and not in an institutionalized framework. Austria obtained information from Germany about the institute for Gender Reflected Violence Prevention, which offers training for parent coaching in prisons, called “Präfix R Coaching”. The target group are fathers and mothers in custody who deal with their parenting role and want to reflect on questions of upbringing. To offer low-threshold training for fathers and mothers in all prisons to support a positive parent-child relationship."
Country
Croatia
Status
Comments
The Croatian Ombudsman’s Office team regularly visits prisons to monitor visiting facilities for children and to meet with prison staff.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Art.41 is fully implemented. MHServices and Prison School Coordinator is involved
Country
France
Status
Yes
Comments
Relais Enfants Parents France and the Italian association Bambinisenzasbarre run support groups for imprisoned mothers and fathers. These information groups are staffed by psychologists, judges, social workers and representatives of institutions to raise awareness on the different aspects of the child-parent relationship and parental roles. The groups also help reinforce parenting skills.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Yes release planning happens but not specifically for family reasons Community Return and Community support schemes exist and are successful in terms of managing the safe reintegration of offenders into society. Safe reintegration in to the family also needs to be considered here.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Release planning and preparation for release is an important issue in the cooperation between NGOs and prison services as part of the communication and community engagement pillar. Safe reintegration in to the family is considered here as one of the aspects. All prisons offer training courses to improve educational skills.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Norway prisons offer a program called “Daddy in prison” where detainees, in groups where they undergo a parental guidance program. In addition, the state has created a national strategy for parental support that will in turn provide safe children in safe communities.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
The recuperative intervention on inmates includes special programmes on developing parental abilities and improving the relationship with the support environment (e.g. Education for the family life, Parental education, Parental rights and responsibilities, Matrimonial and family relationships).
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
The recuperative intervention on inmates includes special programmes on developing parental abilities and improving the relationship with the support environment (e.g. Education for the family life, Parental education, Parental rights and responsibilities, Matrimonial and family relationships).
Country
Spain
Status
Comments
In Spain, the NGO Niños sin Barreras offers legal workshops which cover the law as it relates to the parenting function and the rights of the child, including input from jurists.
Country
Switzerland
Status
Yes
Comments
In Geneva’s prison in Switzerland, Parental support groups on the Swedish BUFFF model are ran by the NGO REPR. It is as in Sweden always child focused, the voice of the child is in the center of the training for parents.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Parenting Programmes: A variety of parenting programmes normallyy taks place across the estate. Seven establishments engage with Early Years Scotland (EYS), delivering a range of programmes (see below). HMP & YOI Polmont have parenting courses delivered by Barnardo's; HMP & YOI Cornton Vale have parenting delivery through an Aberlour worker; HMP Shotts have Solihull parenting approach; HMP Glenochil have run 7 Habits parenting course on occasions and HMP Perth have Family Learning/Fun Club taking place.
Country
Belgium
Status
No
Comments
Improvements and efforts need to be made. There is not enough support for parenting, not in a systematic or structural way.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
The Positive Parenting Programme aimed at strengthening the parental role and the inmate’s socio-educative skills, is part of a broad range of other psychoeducational programmes available to inmates. The goal of the Parental Responsibility Group is to strengthen the parental-child bond and to support the inmate in fulfilling the parental role. In addition, Final Release Support Programme, allows for an individualised planning ahead of the final release date, which will address all individual areas, and family relations in particular.
Country
Italy
Status
Yes
Comments
Relais Enfants Parents France and the Italian association Bambinisenzasbarre run support groups for imprisoned mothers and fathers. These information groups are staffed by psychologists, judges, social workers and representatives of institutions to raise awareness on the different aspects of the child-parent relationship and parental roles. The groups also help reinforce parenting skills.
42. In order to enhance child-parent relationships, prison authorities shall utilise options such as home leave, open prisons, halfway houses, electronic monitoring and community-based programmes and services to the maximum possible extent, to ease transition from prison to liberty, to reduce stigma, to reestablish contact with families at the earliest possible stage and to minimise the impact of a parent’s imprisonment on children.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes And No
Comments
Yes all of these options exist but are not used specifically for family reasons. Although is children considered in the planning and especially that their are not victims of the inmate.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
The legal regulations on measures to open up the prison system must be fully utilised with the aim of maintaining and strengthening contact with the children during detention as well as facilitating the transition from detention to freedom. Stronger networking with external services (youth welfare offices, districts, municipalities, agencies, etc.) is necessary.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Particularly in the area of electronic monitoring, the head of the prisons are asked generously to examine and grant this possibility
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
All prisoners can benefit from home leaves and transfers, from open prison and reintegration center, from the use of electronic monitoring, and from an early release depending on the special circumstances of the baby.
Country
Hungary
Status
No
Comments
Prior to release, the prison might grant the right of prison-leave upon official request, but when assessing this possibility, the most important factor is the goal of reintegration (aid of finances, accommodation, healthcare, etc.) Change of current legislation is necessary, strengthening relationships and contact between inmates and their children shall be incorporated into the legislative environment
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Yes, all of these options exist but are not used specifically for family reasons Greater cooperation with community based family supports are required this is part of the communication and community engagement pillar. Other community based interventions such TUSLA (Methil), Garda Diversion Programmes, Resettlement agency are all actors in this.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
All of these options exist but not used specifically for family reasons, prisoners without children can utilise most of these options as well. For detained parents there are specific training courses and a family officer or case manager monitors the development in the child-parent relation. There is also cooperation with community based family support as part of the communication and community engagement pillar. One NGO, named Exodus, is running transition houses where (ex-)detainees can stay for six months maximum to get used to a life after detention in a protected way. In one transition house for women, it is possible to stay with children under the age of 12. Besides the transition houses also ambulant support is given by Exodus, but can also be given by mothers or older children.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Yes all of these options exist but are not used specifically for family reasons
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
Yes all of these options exist but are not used specifically for family reasons
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Home leave in place; Open conditions; Electronic Monitoring in place.
Country
Belgium
Status
Partly
Comments
Two “halfway” houses – maison de transition - (with 15 places each, one French-speaking and one Dutch-speaking side) were created a year ago. We are in a pilot phase in relation to these structures. It is planned, in the medium term, to open other “halfway” houses for a total of 100 places in halfway houses for the whole country.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The Secretariat makes use of all these options to support the inmate’s transition to the community and not only for family reasons. Moreover, it is worth mentioning the role played by the Community Participation Board (Taula de Participació Social, hereinafter CPB), which was created in 2009. Its regulation establishes its composition, mission, responsibilities and procedures. It acts as an advisory body where the Ministry of Justice, NGO’s and volunteers’ organisations working in the criminal justice field, discuss best approaches to organise the citizens’ involvement in the criminal justice system in Catalonia.
43. For the same purpose, decisions regarding early release shall take into account prisoners’ caregiving responsibilities, as well as their specific family reintegration needs.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
No
Comments
Not a factor today It is not a decision of the SPPS.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
The decision on early release from prison is incumbent on an independent court. In the preparatory statement of the prison, the resocialisation-effective factors of the contacts with the children are to be taken into account.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
N/A
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Please see my comment for art. 42
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Already considered as part of the release process
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Already considered as part of the release process
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
Already considered as part of the release process
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Risk Management Team Guidance reflects care giving responsibilities; HDC & Progression will be considered when being reviewed.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
When the Prison Treatment Board has to decide whether to award a grade progress for an inmate, is the social worker of the Treatment Team who will assess how the family needs will be impacted by the Prison Treatment Board decisions.
44. In order to promote healthy child development and to help former prisoners reintegrate with their children and families, support and care shall be provided by prison, probation or other agencies specialising in assisting prisoners, as appropriate. Prison authorities, in co-operation with probation and/or social welfare services, local community groups and civil society organisations, shall design and implement pre- and post-release reintegration programmes which take into account the specific needs of prisoners resuming their parental role in the community.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
No
Comments
The children are the responsibility of the social service although the SPPS can before release make a notification to the social service that the family can be in need of support.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
Insofar as the "promotion of healthy child development" is the subject of this recommendation, the responsibility lies with the authorities responsible for family and youth. Co-operation between the prison system and external institutions - e.g. probationary services, independent help for offenders, actors of social welfare - as well as reintegration programmes are increasingly successful (e.g. in the field of vocational promotion, addiction support, debt settlement, transition management, etc.). The concepts should be expanded to include aspects of family reintegration and parental skills. It would be conceivable to involve these organisations more closely in the context of family-related services already during the execution of the sentence. The social and family ministries and civil society organisations are also addressed.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Trough an extensive and successful cooperation with the Verein Neustart, an attempt is made to ensure reintegration in all areas. Family reintegration could be brought into focus more
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
We are always involved in the procedures for assisting our imprisoned parents, if necessary, with other agencies and probation services. However for the pre-release programs we are actively involved as described in art.44
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Regulations of the Prison Code are in accordance with this Rec.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Most prisons have strong community links where they work with families, particularly partners of prisoners and assist regarding access to adult education and training opportunities. Some also provide a summer camp for children of prisoners on an annual basis. 
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
The prison has strong community links where we work with families of our prisoners and assist regarding access to adult education and training opportunities. NGO’s are part of the networks, supporting (ex)detainees and their families, but also organizing training activities, interventions and child-parent activities in prisons. Programs and interventions to develop a positive parent-child-relation, as part of sentence planning and preparation for release. There is attention for specific family reintegration needs if the family has contact with volunteer organizations like Exodus, Humanitas and Gevangenenzorg Nederland (member of Prison Fellowship International).
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Various rehabilitation programs, family counseling, talks, individual group meetings with different helpers etc. are offered. The prison has strong community links with voluntary organizations such as the Red Cross, Church Mission, The Organisation for Families and Friends of Prisoners (FFP), Way Back, etc.
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
An inter-institutional approach of children with parents in detention is embraced while implementing the new 2020-2024 National Strategy for Inmates’ Social Reintegration.
Country
Slovakia
Status
Yes
Comments
In prisons there shall be established exit units to which prisoners, who are placed in reasonable time before the expected end of prison sentence, and also prisoners who shall be helped in creating favourable conditions for the independent way of life; the prison shall cooperate closely with the state bodies, local municipality bodies, legal persons, physical persons, interest associations of citizens, churches, religious communities, foundations and charity organizations.
Country
Scotland
Status
Partly
Comments
Throughcare services in place
Country
Belgium
Status
No
Comments
There is a clear lack of such structures in the country. We need to pay more attention to this in the coming years to develop parenting support programs (intramural and extramural).
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The Community Participation Board allows to strengthen the links with the community. The Prison Social Services are focused on the inmate’s families. The community social services and the Child Protection Services are responsible for monitoring and assessing the wellbeing of the inmate’s children.
45. Any new policies or measures designed by or for the prison administration which may impact childparent contact and relations shall be developed with due regard to children’s rights and needs.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
Regarding policy development and implementation the SPPS pays regard to the convention on the rights of the child.
Country
Germany
Status
Yes
Comments
New regulations, guidelines, standards, requirements, concepts or measures should take into account the rights and needs of children. It is advisable to review and, if necessary, adapt existing regulations.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Expected for the specific efforts mentioned already, not yet Getting in touch with organisations which deal with this topic and which offer specific concepts as well as obtaining cost estimates and starting measures in pilot institutes.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
All of our policies or security measures never outweigh the best interest of the child. Further they are developed with due regard to the rights and needs of the child, aiming at supporting positive child-parent relationship.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Before adopting and introducing a new regulation, suggestions of concerned/relevant prison institutions are gathered and assessed.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
The Family And Imprisonment Group advise the IPS in relation to child and family issues in relation to policy development and implementation
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
We’re working on it to organize structural attention to child and family issues in relation to policy development and implementation. More needs to be done
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
The Directorate and the prison management are responsible for ensuring that children's rights are protected by any changes or new areas of development. The responsibility of the child coordinator is to safeguard the children's perspective in prisons
Country
Romania
Status
Yes
Comments
The new National Strategy for Inmates’ Social Reintegration 2020-2024 includes measures specially dedicated to the minors and youngsters accommodated in the educational and detention centres.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Not regulated by current legislation, but many helpful things we do
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
All new policies have an Equality & Human rights impact assessment carried out by SPS policy leads; Family Strategy group in place in each establishment.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The Strategic Planning of the Secretariat foresees an assessment of the impact of its policies on equality and social rights. The Prison Social Services has set up standards and goals for family support.
46. Staff who come into contact with children and their imprisoned parents shall respect their rights and dignity. Prison administrations should select, appoint and resource designated “children’s and/or family officers” whose role should include support for children and their imprisoned parents, facilitate visits in childfriendly settings, provide guidance and information, in particular to children newly confronted with the prison environment, and liaise with relevant agencies, professionals and associations on matters related to children and their imprisoned parents.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
All staff have basic or specialized training in child practise every unit have one or more staff that has a special responsibility on child practise so alled child ombud…
Country
Germany
Status
Comments
The function of "child and/or family officers" should be additionally designated and, depending on the size and responsibility of the correctional institutions, appropriately taken into account in terms of staff planning. The implementation of the tasks contained in the recommendation and the readiness in the prisons for the special protection of the children of prisoners can only be achieved if personnel resources are also made available and the implementation of the recommendation is not transferred to the already existing personnel as an additional task.The finance ministries are equally responsible.
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
There are no designated child officers The special sevices are currently designeated as mainly responsible for family matters. However, additional resources would be needed. It is planned to create brochures for children like in Sweden or Norway. The prison Wien-Simmering has made already a small booklet together with inmates which is used to distribute to children.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Art. 46 is fully implemented
Country
Hungary
Status
No
Comments
At the moment there is no designated “title” or position for family officer at the prison service.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Yes (Provided in some locations only). IPS is aware of the need to provide dedicated family Liaison Officers. A Policy decision regarding resources is required. Local prisons are addressing the issue but specific resources are required for successful engagement with the voice of the child.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
We have family Liaison Officers and in two prisons the extended Family Approach, of which we learn many lessons for all other prisons. Besides staff training in hospitality there are plans to organise evidence-based child-centered training courses in cooperation with NGOs and universities. European subsidiary is requested. More needs to be done
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
Child coordinator at all units is responsible for ensuring that the areas mentioned in the article are taken care of.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Currently, this kind of issues in SPS is unresolved (legislative)
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Family Contact Officers role in place at all establishments; Family Strategy group in place in each establishment; Current work ongoing of an eLearning package for staff on the SPS Family Strategy, Corporate Parenting and Child protection; Child friendly visit rooms; Visitor Centre’s in 12 of the 15 establishments; Continuing Professional Development sessions available for professionals and associations.
Country
Belgium
Status
No
Comments
It's note the case and it's an important project for the years to come.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
The Prison social workers liaise between the prison, the inmate’s family and the community social services. As part of their tasks, they will inform, guide and assess the inmate’s family when they are eligible to social benefits and how to apply. A designated professional with the assignment to look after the rights and needs of imprisoned parents has not been created to date. Through the Social Participation Board, the Secretariat is in contact with the Ombudsman of the Child as well as with other competent bodies or agencies who might be relevant to support the inmates’ children.
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
There are no designated child officers, but there are social workers within the prison who are competent in providing appropriate guidance and information.
47. Staff who come into contact with children and their imprisoned parents shall receive training in areas including how to respect children’s needs and rights, the impact of imprisonment and the prison setting on children and the parental role, how to support imprisoned parents and their children and better understand the specific problems they face, how to make visits child-friendly and to search children in a child-friendly manner.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
All staff have basic or specialized training in child practise every unit have one or more staff that has a special responsibility on child practise so called child ombud..
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
The requirements for dealing with children of detainees should be the subject of further training for prison staff and should be taken into account in the training of trainees. Staff who are in frequent contact with children due to their function (such as gatekeepers or visiting officers) should also undergo further training on the rights and needs of children. Staff who are in close contact with detained parents (such as ward officers, reference officers or social service staff) should be trained, inter alia, in motivational interviewing (cf. Recommendation No. 30).
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
There is no special training for employees that take all of these aspects As a first step, the prison staff/ officers who organice the visits werde made aware of the issue. Trainings should be included in the basic training conditions for prison staff
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Art 47 is fully implemented.
Country
Hungary
Status
No
Comments
At the moment the staff does not receive a training on the right of children who are left at home
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
FLOs were trained on all aspects. More needs to be done
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
We have family Liaison Officers and in two prisons the extended Family Approach, of which we learn many lessons for all other prisons. Besides staff training in hospitality there are plans to organise evidence-based child-centered training courses in cooperation with NGOs and universities. European subsidiary is requested. More needs to be done
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
There are regular courses for child-coordinators, and specific training for program managers for parenting programs.
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Currently, this kind of issues in SPS is unresolved (legislative
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Family Contact Officer Development day has taken place; Family Strategy Groups in place for support at each establishment
Country
Belgium
Status
No
Comments
It's note the case and it's an important project for the years to come.
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
There is not a specific training focusing on the children’s needs and rights and related topics. However, all staff members of the Secretariat must abide by the Code of Ethics for the Professionals working in Criminal Enforcement in Catalonia.
Country
Romania
Status
Partly
Comments
Child-friendly information materials on the meaning and effects of deprivation of liberty were developed and provided for minors visiting their parents in detention.
48. In order to ensure efficiency and quality of the support, protection and care provided to children and their imprisoned parents, staff training programmes shall be evidence-based, reflect current national law and practices and international and regional human rights law and standards relating to children, and shall be revised regularly.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
All staff have basic or specialized training in child practise every unit have one or more staff that has a special responsibility on child practise so called child ombud. Some staff is educated in parental courses.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
The trainings and advanced trainings that already exist and are still to be created must always be kept up to date in legal and practical terms. This requires continuous quality management, including current research results.
Country
Austria
Status
No
Comments
First of all, training must be implemented in order to be able to check it.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
Art. 48 is fully implemented
Country
Hungary
Status
No
Comments
At the moment the staff does not receive training on the rights of children who are left at home.
Country
Ireland
Status
Yes
Comments
Evaluated and bespoke training packages are in place Resources need to be ring fenced for this activity to be embedded.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
Staff training programmes are not always evidence-based yet. See also 46 More needs to be done
Country
Norway
Status
No
Comments
There is no one national multi-agency with an overall responsibility, but the prison has strong community links with probation service, local community and child welfare service, the police, the Ombudsperson for Children etc
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Currently, this kind of issues in SPS is unresolved (legislative)
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
This highlights the need to provide up to date training to staff and this is being worked on currently with SPS College. New eLearning package being worked on for SPS Family Strategy, Corporate Parenting & Child protection and links to all relevant legislation; Child protection policy has been reviewed 2019.
Country
Catalonia
Status
No
Comments
Prison staff does not receive specific training about the legal framework and good practices on the rights of the children. However, social workers receive specialised training on therapeutic and educative interventions with families which also includes the tools to analyse the inmate’s family context. Part of this training includes a Guide and recommendations for family members and professionals when there is a revelation that children have been victim of sexual violence. In addition, the Spanish Central State has reviewed the child protection policy by introducing Organic Law 8/2021 on the comprehensive protection of children and young people against violence.
49. The relevant national authorities should adopt a multi-agency and cross-sectoral approach in order to effectively promote, support and protect the rights of children with imprisoned parents, including their best interests. This involves co-operation with probation services, local communities, schools, health and child welfare services, the police, the children’s ombudsperson or other officials with responsibility for protecting children’s rights, as well as other relevant agencies, including civil society organisations offering support to children and their families.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Yes
Comments
No agency has taken overall responsibility for providing a multi-agency cross-sectoral approach to the issue of children with imprisoned parents. The need has been stressed from both SPPS, the child ombudsman and NGOs. The SPPS keep on stress the importance of a multi-agency cross sectoral approach.
Country
Germany
Status
Partly
Comments
Protecting the rights and welfare of children of imprisoned parents is not the task of the prison system alone. Only interdisciplinary cooperation comprehensively takes into account the needs of children and their parents. It is therefore necessary to identify thematic interfaces at departmental level and to work towards forming new networks or expanding existing networks. Prisons should cooperate with existing local and regional networks in the future.The interior, social and family ministries are also responsible, as are civil society organisations where appropriate.
Country
Austria
Status
Yes
Comments
Austrian prison service organizes training concerning release preparation together with the probation service. There is the idea to use this existing platform to amend all the discussed challenges with family relating issues. On the basis of a decree all prisons have to carry out “network meetings'' with regional partners and NGOs, including childs welfare, family, probation service, healthcare facilities to uphold the quality management concerning release preparation.
Country
Cyprus
Status
No
Comments
There is not a multi-agency and cross-sectoral approach.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
There is a good cooperation with the partner authorities, organizations, services
Country
Ireland
Status
No
Comments
No one agency has taken overall responsibility for providing a multi-agency cross-sectoral approach to the issue of children’s rights. The Ombudsman for children, the Child and family agency and the entire justice sector need to engage with the topic and develop a cohesive strategy
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
The Centre of Expertise K I N D (that means child) is an assembly of professionals, knowledge and networks and gives information, advice and training to family and social networks of children such as teachers, social workers or prison staff. They provide a multi-agency cross-sectoral approach to the issue of children’s rights and are often consulted
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
No one has taken overall responsibility for providing a multi-agency cross-sectoral approach to the issue of children’s rights
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
A structured multi-agency approach with regard to children of imprisoned parents is not currently in place although the Catalan Ombudsman has stressed the need for it. One of the aims of the Secretariat is to work towards this approach establishing cooperation relations with community agencies.
50. The competent ministries, as well as children’s ombudspersons or other national human rights bodies with responsibility for protecting children’s rights, shall monitor, report regularly on and take anyappropriate measures regarding the recognition and implementation of the rights and interests of children with imprisoned parents, including infant children living in prison with their parent.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Sweden
Status
Partly
Comments
In some areas The Children’s ombudsman do pay attention to the group of children of imprisoned parents but the social service on national level need more focus on this group. the big challenge is to achieve cohesion in the overall approach at a national level that takes account of the recommendations.
Country
Germany
Status
No
Comments
The recommendation is addressed not only to the ministries of justice but also to other ministries, each of which is responsible for monitoring compliance with the recommendation on behalf of its own department. This monitoring can take place in the area of the correctional system through supervisory visits and business audits or corresponding reports. In addition, the Laender justice administrations should be able to report on appropriate enquiries (for example, from the Council of Europe pursuant to No. 15b of the Statute of the Council of Europe) on ensuring appropriate measures for the protection of children in detention. Furthermore, the responsibility also lies with the Ministries of the Interior, Social Affairs and Family.
Country
Austria
Status
Comments
In Austria, the Children and Judicial Attorney produce reports on child rights review. The member Network of Children's Rights also provides reports to the United Nations. As Ireland, the major challenge is to achieve a national cohesion following the recommendations.
Country
Cyprus
Status
Yes
Comments
There are no multi-agency and multidisciplinary-expert groups. However, we are always in close contact with imprisoned parents to resolve any issues regarding their children inside and outside prisons. Further, we revise our procedures and policies, and we invest accordingly in the training of the staff based on best practice examples, relevant CoE recommendations, civil society actors, COPE recommendations etc., in order to support positive relationships as much as possible, by meeting the individual needs of the child. Their voices are heard. The provisions of the article are fully implemented. Full compliance with the article 50.
Country
Hungary
Status
Yes
Comments
Such report is prepared.
Country
Ireland
Status
Partly
Comments
The Children’s ombudsman and other bodies do provide annual reports in terms of children’s rights but appear to overlook children of imprisoned parents in such reports. The big challenge is to achieve cohesion in the overall approach at a national level that takes account of the recommendations.
Country
Netherlands
Status
Yes
Comments
The Children’s ombudsman and other bodies like the Centre of Expertise KIND provide annual reports and advices in terms of children’s rights, including advices about children of imprisoned parents.
Country
Norway
Status
Yes
Comments
The Ombudsperson for Children, UN Children's Committee in Norway and other organization do provide annual reports in terms of children’s rights.
Country
Scotland
Status
Yes
Comments
Family Strategy meetings are taking place in each establishment with improvement plans in place. Covid restrictions are currently uimpacting these meetings
Country
Slovakia
Status
No
Comments
Ombudspersons for Children, the issue of children of imprisoned parents has not been resolved in detail
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
In 2019 the Children’s Department of the Catalan Ombudsman (Síndic de Greuges) initiated a study about children and young people whose parents are in prison. The goal of the study is twofold: analysing the existing measures regarding inmates’ children and monitoring the gradual introduction of new measures required to comply with REC(2018)5 of the Council of Europe. The Catalan Ombudsman published new rules whose ultimate aim is to ensure the implementation of REC(2018)5.
51. Multi-disciplinary and multi-agency expert groups, involving children with imprisoned parents, should be established in order to assess how children experience parental imprisonment, contact and relations with their imprisoned parent and to suggest improvements to current policies and practices.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Catalonia
Status
No
Comments
The Parental Responsibility Group has explored how infants and teenagers experience their parents’ detention by asking them to complete a questionnaire. However, no scientific evaluation has been conducted so far.
52. Statistical data from prison and child welfare sources should be systematically collected and published together with information on children with imprisoned parents and inventories of good practice.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Catalonia
Status
No
Comments
The Prison Information System is not prepared to extract statistical data on the inmates’ family or social circumstances. By contrast, the Child Protection Services Information System does provide such statistical information and publishes a report on a regular basis.
53. Funding shall be made available to support research on children with imprisoned parents in order to contribute to policy development and to promote best practice in this area.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Catalonia
Status
No
Comments
Since 1987 the Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training of the Ministry of Justice, funds research projects on the topics relevant to the Ministry of Justice. One of these research projects focused on the role of the families in the reintegration process of inmates. Available here: http://cejfe.gencat.cat/ca/recerca/cataleg/crono/2018/paper-families-reinsercio/
54. The implementation of child-friendly practices and policies, including international standards relatingto children with imprisoned parents, shall be regularly reviewed and evaluated. This review may involve the relevant ministries, the prison administration, social services, children’s ombudspersons and other human rights bodies with responsibility for protecting children’s rights, as well as other relevant agencies, including civil society organisations.
55. Information provided to, and by, the media should not violate the right to privacy and protection of children and their families, including data protection rules, and any media reporting should be carried out in a child-friendly manner.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Catalonia
Status
Yes
Comments
The communication policy of the Secretariat is informed by the principle of transparency as well as by aster strict observance of personal data protection laws, including the protection of image rights of all the individuals involved in its activity, including inmates, their families and staff.
56. The media, professionals and the general public should be provided with reliable and up-to-date data and good practice examples to increase their awareness regarding the numbers of children affected and the impact of parental imprisonment, and to avoid negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of children with imprisoned parents.
Country
Status
Comments
Country
Catalonia
Status
Partly
Comments
The Ministry of Justice website includes complete information about the programmes and services of the Secretariat. The good practices and activities carried out by the Parental Responsibility Group have been disseminated through this website. Precisely, one of the goals of the Parental Responsibility Group is to propagate information about its work and to reach out to the academic community and to other target groups.

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European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services (EUROPRIS)