The Netherlands Prisoners who are considered extremely likely to attempt to escape from prison and who, if they succeed, pose an unacceptable risk to society in terms of committing further serious violent crimes or in terms of severe disturbance of public order, may be placed at the extra-security units (EBI and (T)EBI) at Vaught prison, which have a total capacity of 35 cells. The regime and security arrangements at the units include some of the following: • • • • • • • • • Two screened telephone calls of up to 10 minutes a week and screening of all non-privileged correspondence; Closed, pre-arranged visits with approved visitors (one weekly visit of up to an hour); One monthly contact visit with immediate family/spouse lasting an hour (physical contact is limited to a handshake upon arrival and departure; guards remain in close proximity throughout the visit; visitors are subjected to a search (‘frisking’) prior to visit) No educational activities and limited in-cell work opportunities; Staff are separated from prisoners by a glass partition; only one prisoner at a time may come into contact with staff, and at least two staff members must be present; on such occasions the prisoner must be handcuffed; One hour a day of outdoor exercise with between one and three other prisoners; Up to six hours weekly of ‘group activities’ with no more than three others; Weekly cell searches; Weekly strip searches. United States Prisoners who are classified as gang members or have been found guilty of a ‘serious rule violation’ in prison may be held in solitary confinement in the Security Housing Unit (SHU) at Pelican Bay State Prison (California) for periods ranging from two to five years in the case of rule violators and indefinitely in the case of gang members. Once at the SHU, which has capacity of 1056 cells, they spend 23 to 24 hours a day inside their cell and have access to the following: • • • • • • • • • • 48 Solitary exercise in a small and barren exercise yard for one hour four times weekly; A 15 minute long shower in a single shower-cell three times weekly; One quarter of the monthly canteen allowance; No access to recreational or vocational activities; Telephone calls on an emergency basis only, as determined by staff; Two 2 hour long no-contact family visits on weekends once a month; One annual package, not exceeding 30 pounds in weight; One-off special purchase of one television or one radio/television unit; Up to ten items of reading materials (magazines and books); No hobby or craft materials. Sourcebook on solitary confinement: Design, physical conditions and regime in solitary confinement units