Possession and storage of tobacco products, smoking accessories and lighting devices in closed prisons RISE/1816/2023

Regulation Issued by the Prison and Probation Service RISE/1816/2023

Legal basis: Chapter 7, section 8 of the Imprisonment Act and chapter 3, section 10 of the Remand Imprisonment Act

In force: 4 September 2023

Repeals: Arrangement of smoking and possession of lighting devices in closed prisons (4/004/2020)

For: Prison and Probation Service

Pursuant to chapter 7, section 8 of the Imprisonment Act, smoking indoors is prohibited in prison. In a closed prison, prisoners have to be given an opportunity to smoke once a day during outdoor exercise referred to in section 6 of the Imprisonment Act unless they have been denied outdoor exercise. Smoking outdoors can be arranged more frequently if it is possible without endangering other prison activities or the prison order, safety and security.

Tobacco products, smoking accessories and lighting devices are not given into the possession of prisoners inside prison. The tobacco products and lighting devices of the prisoners are stored in the possession of the prison staff in a storage facility reserved for them. Each prison can decide the place they consider the most suitable for storage.

Prisoners may have tobacco products and lighting devices in their possession only during their daily outdoor exercise and when being moved to and from there. In addition, prisoners can have tobacco products and lighting devices in their possession if the prison arranges a possibility to smoke outdoors at other times than their daily outdoor exercise. The prison staff gives the tobacco products and lighting devices into to the possession of the prisoners when their outdoor exercise begins and collects them back when their outdoor exercise ends. It can also be arranged so that prisoners pick up the products from and return them to the storage facility themselves.

When prisoners buy tobacco products, smoking accessories and lighting devices from the prison canteen, the products are not given into their possession, but the staff delivers the products directly to the place where they are stored in the prison. If necessary, it can also be arranged so that prisoners bring the products to the storage facility themselves.

The Regulations and Provisions Team of the Judicial Unit of the Prison and Probation Service can provide additional information.

On behalf of Director General,
Director Riitta Kari

Lawyer Heidi Lokasaari