Arrival in prison

What to bring with you in prison?

• Necessary medication for a few days
• Prescriptions and possible medical certificates
• Identity card, passport, driving licence, health insurance card with a photo or other corresponding photo identification document
• ­Your own mobile phone or other device you use for electronic identification

­If you are going to an open prison, your bank account details, payment card, account number and devices or identifying codes used for online payments as well as your tax card for possible open prison work.

You can also bring

• Clothes, shoes, backpack or bag
• Books
• Personal hygiene products (not, however, liquids, pastes or make-up)
• Each sentenced person arriving in prison from freedom is given free personal hygiene products, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, disposable razors, shampoo and sanitary towels.
• Small amount of personal property
• Small amount of cash
• Bringing cash in prison is not recommended. In a closed prison, you get to use a personal payment card, which is a Visa prepaid card. It is kept in the possession of the prison staff. The possible cash you bring with you in prison in euro is loaded on the payment card. Prisoners in open prisons get a payment card if they do not have a bank card connected to their personal bank account.

• Family members can transfer you money via the joint prisoner account of the Prison and Probation Service. The instructions for sending money can be found here.

Goods you are not allowed to bring with you in prison

• ­Your own foodstuffs
• Cigarettes
• ­Alcohol or other intoxicating substances, doping substances or objects intended for narcotics use
• ­Firearms, edged weapons or explosives
• ­Camera, video camera or computer

‍The possession of property is restricted in all prisons. The restrictions are based on the Imprisonment Act. The objects or devices given to your possession may not cause harm to the cleanliness, order, safety, or security of the prison.

In addition, prisons have limited storage facilities, which is why the amount of property and goods brought in prison has to be reasonable. Do not bring a large amount of property or property that cannot be stored in the prison facilities.

‍Reporting to prison

You have to report to prison according to the instructions given to you and at the specified time.

You have to be sober when you arrive at prison. In order to test that, the prison staff will ask you to provide a urine sample.

You need to bring your passport or photo identity card to prove your identity.

Arrival check

After you arrive at prison, a nurse of the Health Care Services for Prisoners will invite you to an arrival check. The health-care practices of open prisons vary and the prison, where you are placed, will give you more detailed information on the practices of that prison.