Short-term visit

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Mother and child

 

Convicted offenders and persons in custody have the right to correspondence. A prisoner’s letters are mailed at their own expense. By way of an exception, letters addressed to the Chancellor of Justice, prisons, the President, a public prosecutor, an investigator, or a court of law are mailed at the prison’s expense.

Letters sent and received by convicted offenders and persons in custody are opened by a prison officer in the prisoner’s presence, except for letters which the prison does not have the right to check pursuant to the Republic of Estonia Imprisonment Act. The purpose of checking envelopes is to prevent prohibited items from entering the prison. At the same time, prison officers do not have the right to read letters opened for inspection; such letters may only be read based on a court’s permission on grounds and pursuant to the procedure provided in the Republic of Estonia Surveillance Act. Prisoners have the right to send letters in a sealed envelope to their counsel, a representative that is an attorney-at-law, a public prosecutor, a court, the Chancellor of Justice, and the Ministry of Justice.

Sent letters are mailed within three working days as of the date on which such letters were given to prison staff. Letters received by the prison are delivered to prisoners within seven working days. Prisoners confirm receipt of letters by providing a signature.

Letters sent to a prisoner by their counsel, a representative that is an attorney-at-law, a public prosecutor, a court, the Chancellor of Justice, the Ministry of Justice, and institutions noted in § 107 of the Republic of Estonia Imprisonment Act are immediately delivered to the prisoner in a sealed envelope. Also delivered immediately to prisoners are copies of summaries of charges, court rulings, or court judgements.

The head of the prison’s information and investigative department may restrict correspondence only if it is required for the purpose of ensuring prison security or internal arrangements or implementation of criminal proceedings. It is prohibited to restrict correspondence with state authorities, local governments, and officials of such authorities and governments as well as with the relevant prisoner’s counsel and representative that is an attorney-at-law. The deadline of responding to letters is calculated starting from the day following the date on which the relevant letter in Estonian was received.

Prisoners are permitted letters and maxi letters for the purposes of § 4 (2) of the Republic of Estonia Postal Act. Pursuant to § 1 (5) of the February 10, 2009 regulation No. 8 of the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications ˮAffordable price charged from users for universal postal serviceʺ, machine processed mail which is duly packaged and equipped with a recipient’s address may be sent as a standard letter, and pursuant to § 1 (7) of the same regulation, a maxi letter constitutes an object or objects (incl. those of non-standard shape), weighing a maximum of 2 kilograms, duly equipped with a receiver’s address, packaged, and handed over for mailing to a provider of postal services.

Letter sizes are laid down in items 11.4.1 and 11.4.3 of the Standard Terms of Universal Postal Service by AS Eesti Post.

The weight and dimensions of standard letters:

Maximum weight	250 g
Minimum dimensions	90 × 140 mm
Maximum dimensions	229 × 324 × 5 mm

If a letter exceeds the maximum weight or maximum dimensions applied to standard letters, the item of mail is deemed to be a maxi letter.

The weight and dimensions of maxi letters:

Maximum weight	2000 g
Minimum dimensions	90 × 140 mm (height, width); or when rolled up, the sum of the length and double diameter 170 mm and the longest dimension 100 mm
Maximum dimensions	230 mm x 330 mm x 20 mm

If an item of mail exceeds the maximum weight or maximum dimensions applied to maxi letters, the item of mail is deemed to be parcel post.

The arrangement of correspondence is regulated by § 28 – § 29 and § 96 – § 97 of the Republic of Estonia Imprisonment Act and the November 30, 2000 regulation No. 72 of the Minister of Justice ʺInternal prison rulesʺ.