Only persons in custody are allowed to receive packages; convicted prisoners do not have this right. Persons in custody may receive a package containing maximum of 10 kg of items once every two months.
Packages may contain clothing and footwear, nail clippers and combs, stationery, incl. paper, writing instruments, envelopes, stamps, postcards, books, periodicals, printed legislation, religious insignia, photographs and, with authorisation from a medical officer, glasses, with the exception of sunglasses. Sent printed materials and items must neither promote violence, hate, racism etc. nor be pornographic in content. Packages may not contain groceries!
The prison has the right to intercept and not hand over to the prisoner items contained in a package, owning of which in prison is prohibited or which may endanger the implementation of relevant criminal proceedings.
The deliverer of a hand package hands it over, along with relevant application in two copies, to a prison officer who checks the package’s contents and weight in the presence of the deliverer and gives their signature certifying the receipt of the package. A copy of the above application containing the prison officer’s signature is returned to the deliverer of the package; the other copy is held by the prison and the person in custody signs this copy certifying receipt of the package.
Packages may also be sent by mail. Small packages sent as items of correspondence, as defined in the Republic of Estonia Postal Act, are not considered to be packages.
Hand packages delivered or mailed to the name of a person held in a punishment cell are received by prison staff and are later delivered to the person in custody after serving of the disciplinary punishment.
Receipt of packages by persons in custody is regulated by § 98 of the Republic of Estonia Imprisonment Act § 98 and the November 30, 2000 regulation No. 72 of the Minister of Justice ʺInternal prison rulesʺ.