5. CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD In Belgium, detained fathers are encouraged to maintain contact with their children through video storytelling. Prisoners learn storytelling techniques through group exercises, practice speaking in front of a camera and design the DVD cover themselves. They can choose to record stories about their own lives, a story they write themselves or an existing children’s story. The fathers are able to review the recordings, which are then put on DVDs and are given to their children.281 A similar initiative called Storybook Dads and Storybook Mums exists in the United Kingdom.282 Individual assessments 32 In many countries, the type and frequency of visits permitted for each prisoner is determined by prisoner’s security classification. However, while prison authorities might have legitimate security concerns for high-security prisoners, visits should never be denied completely. Denial of visits would constitute an additional form of punishment and can be extremely harmful for a prisoner’s family relationships and rehabilitation prospects. To address this, there should be minimum visiting entitlements which apply to all prisoners, regardless of their security classification. 33 High security prisoners do not necessarily pose a higher risk during visits than other prisoners and they may, in fact, have a greater need for regular visits, especially if they are serving long sentences. Visiting entitlements should, therefore, be based on the risk associated with the specific visits, rather than the prisoner’s security classification. 34 Visiting rights are often linked to behaviour, but prison officers should be aware that prisoners with behavioural issues may also be those who would stand to benefit most from regular, or extended visits from their families or others. 35 UNOPS points out that in low security prisons there should be no need for non-contact visiting facilities. Non-contact visits should not be the default visiting arrangement.283 PROMISING PRACTICE: ASSESSMENTS FOR HIGH SECURITY VISITS IN SWEDEN [5.8] Swedish prison authorities recognize that high security prisoners may have a greater need for regular visits than other prisoners. As such, visits to high security prisoners are assessed using the same criteria as for all other prisoners, with a view to reducing the negative impact of long sentences and bearing in mind the key principles of rehabilitation and reintegration.284 A government directive specifies that prisoners with long sentences who are not permitted to take leave/furloughs should, along with prisoners with children, be granted priority in requests to use visitor’s apartments. 281 282 283 284 36 For the different means of communication to be effective and available to all, prison authorities must ensure that there are functional systems in place for their use. They must ensure that telephones are working and accessible to all. If registration for prison visits is required, and visits need to be booked in advance, the systems should be easy to understand and functional. 37 The right to have contact with family and friends must be applied without discrimination. Indigent prisoners should be provided with appropriate support (including writing material, envelopes, postage stamps and telephone cards) so that they are not de facto deprived of communication with family and friends. Other positive steps should be taken to help those who need support in contacting their families. Those who are illiterate should be provided with the means to communicate other than in writing. 5 Accessibility and non-discrimination 281. ODIHR/PRI regional consultation 19 and 20 April 2017, op. cit., note 278. 282. For more information, see: www.storybookdads.org.uk. 283. Technical Guidance for Prison Planning, UNOPS, op. cit., note 84, p. 131. 284. ODIHR/PRI regional consultation 19 and 20 April 2017, op. cit., note 278. Guidance document on the Nelson Mandela Rules 123