Country

France

Detention issue

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
French Prison Code The right of detainees to maintain relations with members of their family is exercised in particular through visits by the their family. Such visits may take place at least 3 times a week for an accused person and at least once a week for a convicted person.
French Prison CodeWith regard to telephone correspondence, this is carried out using the telephones provided by the prison. The use or possession of portable phones or any other communicating devices is prohibited.
French Prison CodeDetainees have the right to maintain family ties, in particular through visits. In addition to visiting rights, detainees may receive visits from their families in family living units or family visiting rooms. Family living units or family visiting rooms set up within prisons can accommodate any detainee. All detainees are entitled to at least one quarterly visit in a family living unit or a family visiting room, at their request.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2023The rules governing access to visiting rooms and the family life units should be made more flexible and, more generally, all measures facilitating access to visiting facilities for persons under assessment should be taken to allow them to maintain their family ties. Report details
2022Access by detainees to written and telephone correspondence must respect their privacy, whether in terms of the material resources made available to them or the conditions under which they are monitored. Report details
2022Detainees must be able to receive regular visits from their close relatives, under satisfactory conditions of privacy which must not be compromised by surveillance arrangements. They must be informed of, and be able to participate in, family events that concern them. Report details