CHAPTER 24. TELEPHONES The telephone provides a useful means of maintaining contact with the outside world, particularly when matters need to be dealt with urgently. The international instruments make no specific reference to the use of the telephone. In the words of the "preliminary observations" to the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which were adopted in 1955, the rules "cover a field in which thought is constantly developing" and "are not intended to preclude experiment and practices, provided these are in harmony with the principles" (rule 3). PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS ■ A telephone call can serve as a substitute for a letter or a visit, or can clear the way to make a visit or letter more productive. ■ Telephone contact may be especially important: - In the case of foreign nationals for whom visits may be virtually impossible; - For a prisoner to communicate with his or her legal representative. ■ In cases of emergency, prisoners should be allowed to use official telephones under the appropriate supervision. ■ As with letters and visits, there can be security considerations in allowing telephone calls. It may be necessary for some prisoners to make and receive calls from an office under the supervision of a member of staff. Where telephones operated with coins or cards are provided, it may be necessary for staff to monitor or record some calls if there are good reasons for doing so. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION Many people are more at ease with oral rather than written communication. The sense of isolation which a prisoner and his or her family may feel can be reduced if regular communication by telephone is possible. At the same time, many prisoners cope with imprisonment by restricting topics for conversation with their correspondents or visitors. It is more difficult to do this if there is regular conversation by telephone. Staff should be aware of the complexities of this issue. CASE STUDY The prison is holding a foreign prisoner who speaks only his own language. He neither sends nor receives letters. Through an interpreter he asks if he may make a monthly telephone call to his family abroad. He is willing to pay from his own resources. Bearing in mind the right to contact with family, what decision should be taken? 123