Family visits

In addition to supervised visits, you can apply for unsupervised family visits. The decision on family visits is made by an official in charge of activities or security or a senior official with superior duties.

You can apply for a family visit with your close relatives or other people close or important to you. Safety issues are always taken into account when deciding on family visits.

A family visit can last from two to six hours. Prisons have separate homelike family visit rooms where it is possible to make coffee and have small snacks. The rooms are equipped with toys for children, a bed and washing facilities.

Some open prisons have separate facilities for unsupervised visits. The practices related to unsupervised visits vary between prisons. Your prison can give you more information on the matter. If you are in a prison, where there are no facilities for family visits, you may be granted prison leave for an important reason related to your family at most once a month if you fulfil the prerequisites of prison leave.

All prisons can arrange communication via video connection by using Skype. You can use a shared online workstation meant for prisoners for making Skype calls. You have to apply for permission according to the practices of your prison.