purchaser’s name, but in that of the prison or private service provider in charge of these types of purchases. For this reason, the persons do not have any official documents which they can produce in case of need, in particular should they wish to have the benefit of the clauses provided under the guarantee, before or after their release. For example, cases were referred to the CGLPL of persons who had to pay for the purchase of a second hotplate after being unable to obtain the exchange or reimbursement of the first, which was no longer in working order, despite the fact that the equipment was covered by a guarantee. The CGLPL therefore recommends that estimates in their name and invoices in due form should be handed over to purchasers, at the time of delivery of the product at the latest. Nor is effective autonomy conceivable without financial autonomy, either in prison or at the time of release. This presupposes individuals being placed in the position of being able to earn or receive enough money to live in a dignified manner within prison and subsequently outside 72, as well as them being authorised to spend, save or pass it on to their close relations, as they so desire, subject to the legal and statutory provisions to which they remain subject. In a case recently referred to the Minister of Justice, the CGLPL recommended the adoption of a new circular concerning the fight against poverty in prison, in particular for a reassessment of the provisions (amount, timescale, criteria, possibility of saving etc.) providing a framework for the allocation of cash allowances to persons considered to lack adequate financial resources. It considers that this would promote the autonomy of the most financially impoverished individuals. Cases were referred to the CGLPL concerning the difficulties encountered by several persons within the framework of the establishment of a bank account outside prison. Article D.324 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that “the sums constituting the release allowance are placed in a special account; when they exceed a sum fixed by order of the Minister of Justice they are paid into a “livret A” savings account”. Article A. 41 of the Code of Criminal Procedure fixes this threshold at 229 euros. An agreement concerning the management of prisoners’ compulsory savings was signed between the prisons administration department and the Banque Postale bank on 23rd December 2008. Its purpose is to give a formal framework to the procedures for opening and operating these savings accounts. The agreement provides that, when the person concerned already has a “Livret A” savings account, a different type of account may be opened. However, it appears that this provision is seldom or never applied. Indeed, in spite of the agreement, which specifies that persons should be asked about their ownership of savings accounts and make a formal declaration that they have not already opened a Livret A account, the CGLPL has sometimes noted the opening of a second account of this type (Livret A “prison account”) when the persons concerned already had one at their time of arrival at the institution. Furthermore, the systematic opening of a first or second Livret A savings account takes away prisoners’ sense of responsibility, since they are unable to adapt their financial investments to their plans (e.g. taking out a home savings scheme (plan épargne logement) if they intend to become homeowners, investment in a sustainable development savings account (livret de développement durable) if they consider its rate and mode of management more suitable for their situation in prison or after their release etc.). The CGLPL therefore recommends that individuals should be placed in a position to choose the type of savings account that they wish to open. It would also appear appropriate for them to receive a second copy of their savings account statements, to date sent by the 72 The CGLPL also reasserts its recommendations with regard to work in prison, in particular those set out in the Annual Report for the year 2011 concerning rates and modes of remuneration, determination of rates of work and the adoption of a circular on employment etc. 97