Arrival check RISE/3136/2023

Prison and Probation Service: regulation RISE/3136/2023

Legal basis: Chapter 4, section 12 of the Imprisonment Act and chapter 2, section 6 of the Remand Imprisonment Act

In force: from 15 May 2025 until further notice

Repeals: Regulation on arrival check (record no. 6/004/2016)

For: Prison and Probation Service

1. General

A prisoner or remand prisoner arriving at prison must undergo an arrival check in the presence of a witness. The arrival check is conducted in the prison where the prisoner or remand prisoner arrives. In a closed prison, the arrival check includes changing clothes (chapter 4, section 5, subsection 1 of the Imprisonment Act, chapter 2, section 4, subsection 1 of the Remand Imprisonment Act).

The arrival check includes a security check of the person as referred to in chapter 16, section 3 of the Imprisonment Act and chapter 11, section 3 of the Remand Imprisonment Act. The person may be subjected to a non-intimate body search if the prerequisites laid down in chapter 16, section 4 of the Imprisonment Act and chapter 11 section 4 of the Remand Imprisonment Act are met. More detailed instructions on a non-intimate body search are given in the Prison and Probation Service’s regulation on non-intimate body search (RISE/6580/2023).

2. Verification and registration of the prisoner’s identity

When a person enters a prison on their own or after being sent there by a court or apprehended by the police based on a warrant of apprehension, an official of the Prison and Probation Service has to verify the person’s identity. Identity is verified by a photo document that reliably proves identity, such as an identity card, passport or driving license. If the sentenced person does not have an identity card with them or the person’s identity cannot otherwise be sufficiently verified, the data systems available in the prison may be used for identification purposes to the extent possible within the limits of the granted right of access. The police may also be requested to provide executive assistance to verify the person’s identify. A person is not admitted to the prison if the person’s identity cannot be sufficiently verified. Information on the admission of a person to prison has to be entered into the offender management system without delay.

3. Taking of personal identifying characteristics

A photograph and personal identifying characteristics of a prisoner or remand prisoner are recorded upon arrival at the prison (chapter 4, section 5, subsection 2 of the Imprisonment Act, chapter 2, section 4, subsection 2 of the Remand Imprisonment Act). The photograph is stored in the offender management system. The personal identifying characteristics are recorded in the offender management system as written descriptions. If there are changes in the identifying marks, the information must be updated immediately.

4. Inventory and inspection of the property brought by the prisoner

The inventory and inspection of the property brought by the prisoner are conducted in the prison where the prisoner or remand prisoner first arrives. The inventory of the property can also be done in another prison if the person is immediately transferred to another prison. In that case, the property is inspected, packed and sealed for transportation.

Instructions on the storage, sending, destruction and inventory of property are given in a separate regulation (RISE/2849/2023).

The Regulations and Provisions Team of the Judicial Unit of the Prison and Probation Service provides further information.

Director General Anna Arola-Järvi
Lawyer Mia Sandberg