Prison leave

In addition to short-term and long-term visits the imprisoned person is entitled to apply for prison leave for up to 21 calendar days a year. As a rule, the application for prison leave may be submitted by the imprisoned person who has served at least a year of the prison sentence imposed on him/her (this does not apply to the imprisoned person in an open prison).

All expenses concerning the prison leave must be covered by the imprisoned person and the time spent outside the prison shall be considered part of the imprisonment time.

The imprisoned person who wants to go on prison leave must submit the relevant application to the director of the prison, who shall decide the granting of permission within one month after the submission of the imprisoned person’s application. With the application the imprisoned person shall submit the prison leave schedule indicating the activities he/she intends to undertake and how these activities are related to the preparations for the release from prison. After returning from the prison leave the said schedule shall be reviewed with the prison social worker and the results of the prison leave shall be evaluated.

The imprisoned person permitted to go on the prison leave must register himself/herself at the local police office of the place of destination on the day of arrival and departure.

The imprisoned person must return from the prison leave in time and at the time of returning he/she must be sober. If the imprisoned person cannot return to prison at the agreed time for a reason beyond his/her control (e.g. illness), he/she must immediately inform the prison duty officer thereof and subsequently present to the prison the documents establishing the circumstances of the late return. The arrested person and the imprisoned person convicted for life cannot apply for a prison leave.

Prison leave is governed by § 32 of the Imprisonment Act and by Chapter 16 of Minister of Justice Regulation No 72 of 30 November 2000 “Prison Rules of Internal Procedure.”