5. CONTACT WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD 38 The location of prison telephones, post boxes, libraries and other means of communication should be considered at the prison planning stage to ensure equality of access, particularly where different categories of prisoners are held in the same facility. The placement and design of prison telephone areas should also take into account the need for privacy. 39 Under no circumstances should prisoners or their families be required to pay for the right to have a prison visit or have to bring materials to prisoners. To avoid the use of bribes, prison administrations should consider displaying prominent signs outside visiting areas stating that payments are neither expected nor required. 40 Information about how prison visits are arranged, as well as the prison rules and regulations governing prison visits, should be made available to visitors before they enter the prison. Such information could be prominently displayed at the entrance to the facility and, if prison visitors are illiterate, prison staff could explain the procedures and rules to them verbally. If visitors are made aware of the penalties for smuggling contraband items into the facility, then they may be deterred from doing so. 41 The EPR state that, unless there is a specific prohibition for a specified period by a judicial authority in an individual case, untried prisoners “shall receive visits and be allowed to communicate with family and other persons in the same way as convicted prisoners” and “may receive additional visits and have additional access to other forms of communication”.285 PROMISING PRACTICE: TEMPORARY RELEASE SCHEMES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM [5.9] The Northern Ireland Prison Service provides online information about the schemes for compassionate temporary release, home visits, pre-release home and resettlement leave, home leave at Christmas and temporary release for medical purposes.286 In summary the schemes available are: Compassionate temporary release scheme All sentenced prisoners may apply for compassionate temporary release, which is granted subject to a satisfactory risk assessment. Compassionate temporary release is considered in the case of the death or critical illness of a member of the prisoner’s immediate family. Home leave at Christmas Home leave at Christmas may be granted to prisoners who meet the eligibility criteria and who have a satisfactory risk assessment profile. Ministerial approval is required annually for the home leave at Christmas scheme. Home visits scheme Temporary release may be granted in circumstances where a member of the prisoner's immediate family is chronically ill or infirm, housebound and is physically unable to visit the prisoner. It is subject to a satisfactory risk assessment and applications will be considered for one day time visit every six months providing certain criteria are satisfied. Temporary release for medical purposes All prisoners other than those who are remanded in custody by any court, committed in custody for trial or un-sentenced can be considered for temporary release for in-patient or out-patient hospital care, when such care cannot be delayed until the patient's release or cannot be provided within the prison. Prisoners who are refused medical leave are advised that the appropriate security and administrative arrangements will be Pre-release home and resettlement leave put in place to enable them to receive necessary The purpose of pre-release home and resettlement in-patient or out-patient hospital care. leave is to help prisoners’ self-confidence by 5 124 trusting the prisoner under conditions of complete freedom and to help her or him re-adjust to life outside of prison by providing an opportunity, before final release, to renew home ties and to get in touch with prospective employers. Pre-release leave is a privilege to be earned, rather than a right, and is based on specific criteria. 285 286 The visiting environment 42 The prison visiting environment depends on the type of visits permitted, yet even the most tightly regulated visits can be enhanced by the surroundings and the behaviour of staff members towards the visitors. Prison authorities have to provide security to both prisoners 285. Technical Guidance for Prison Planning, UNOPS, op. cit., note 84, p. 144. 286. For more information, see: Temporary Release Schemes, Department of Justice Northern Ireland Executive at www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/ temporary-release-schemes. Guidance document on the Nelson Mandela Rules