How is a visit in prison and how many visits per year are there?

The number of visits to which a convicted person is entitled throughout the year and their duration are established based on the type of correctional institution, as well as the regime and conditions of the convicted person’s stay there.

According to these documents, visits of convicts with relatives can be short-term, lasting up to 4 hours, and long-term, lasting up to 3 days. Sometimes long visits can be extended up to 5 days.

It should be taken into account that the convicted person has the right to a first meeting immediately upon his arrival from the quarantine department to the detachment, and it does not matter whether he had previously had a meeting in the previous place of detention. And all subsequent visits are scheduled within a time frame determined by dividing 12 months by the number of visits a particular prisoner is entitled to under the specific conditions of his detention.

What kind of visits are there in prisons?

First of all, let's talk about what kind of dates there are in the general security zone. As a rule, they are divided into two categories according to time: 1. Long dates; 2. Short-term dates. A long visit in prison is considered the most desirable for prisoners, because they can be allowed to see loved ones and close people for three whole days. And relatives can settle in a specially equipped room on the territory of the colony at their own expense or the expense of the convicted person. A long visit in prison for five days is also allowed if relatives stay outside the prison.

A short-term visit in prison is allowed for a period of no more than 4 hours.

Although the duration of a visit in prison may depend on the following factors: • The type of sentence that the convicted person is serving; • Conditions of detention; • Behavior of the convicted person and adherence to the internal detention regime; • Decision of the administration or head of the correctional institution where the convicted person is serving his sentence. For more details, see articles of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation 89, 121, 123, 125, 131.

In what cases can the number and type of meetings be changed?

The following situations are also provided that exclude long visits::

Visits are prohibited for those placed in a punishment cell (for minors - a disciplinary cell) (Articles 118, 137 of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation). Since the schedule of meetings with relatives is formed taking into account the even frequency between the required number of visits, then, once in a punishment cell, you can be “late” for a meeting with relatives according to the schedule and, as a result, simply lose it.
For persons who find themselves in an inpatient treatment facility at a medical treatment facility, long-term visits are either replaced by short-term ones or postponed until recovery (clause 134 of Order No. 295 of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation).
When convicts are transferred to a pre-trial detention center (to participate in investigative actions and trials), long visits are replaced by short-term or telephone conversations, depending on the criminal procedural status:
- for a suspect (accused) – 2 times a month for 3 hours;

You can find out more information about the peculiarities of keeping prisoners in pre-trial detention centers, pre-trial detention centers and other places of punishment here.

The law provides not only for a reduction in the number of visits, but also for their increase. It is allowed to provide additional visits from relatives in the form of incentives - up to 4 long visits per year in addition to the normative ones (Article 114 of the Penal Code of the Russian Federation).

How many meetings are allowed under the general regime?

The number of visits per year is based on what type of sentence the prisoner is on. Let's start with the question of how much is required • In addition to the general regime, lighter conditions of detention are often added. In this case, up to six long-term visits are allowed, and the same number of short-term visits in every 12 months of serving the sentence. • If a prisoner is serving a sentence in a general regime colony without light conditions, then there will be four long visits. Sometimes, if the convict behaves well, then, by decision of the administration, the management can turn a blind eye to an extra long visit in the zone. But only one thing, and on the condition that the prisoner tries to improve and follows all the internal rules.

Answering the question: how many visits are allowed under the general regime, we will indicate - 4 long and short-term per year.

However, if the convicted person has been observed to have gross violations of order, he may be deprived of visits.

Duration and number of dates

Question: What does a long visit with a prisoner mean?

It can be up to 3 days, with the right to live together with a close person on the territory of the correctional institution. Sometimes you may be allowed to live outside the colony in a place determined by the administration for 5 days (this is the maximum duration). Children or grandchildren of the convicted person may come with adult visitors.

In order to see their children more often, convicted women are entitled to additional time to communicate with them - on weekends and holidays.

In exceptional cases, they may be allowed to live with non-close relatives, but with no more than two adults (for example, cousins).

During the communication, the convict is released from work; subsequently, he is required to work off absences. The prisoner has the right to use clothes, shoes, and bed linen brought by relatives. Those arriving for long-term visits with a prisoner are allowed to bring food and drinks (except alcohol).

Sometimes, at the request of the convicted person or a relative who was allowed to see each other, the meeting is terminated early (for example, they ask to interrupt the meeting due to a quarrel, illness, etc.).

To ensure the safety of each visitor’s load, colony staff are allowed to conduct personal searches of arrivals. If violations are detected, the visit may be canceled, and if the inspection is refused, it may be replaced with a short-term one.

Short-term meetings can be with anyone, even just an acquaintance ; the maximum duration of communication corresponds to 4 hours in the presence of colony staff (dividing or combining meeting times is unacceptable). Bringing things, training, and food is not allowed. The room in which communication takes place is technically equipped with a listening device.

At the request of the prisoner, a meeting of any kind can be replaced by a telephone call.

Question: How many visits is a convicted person entitled to?

Their number depends on two criteria:

on the type of colony in which the person resides (colony-settlement, general-regime correctional colony, high-security penal colony, special-regime penal colony, or prison). For example, in a general regime colony, a prisoner is given 4 long-term visits and 6 short-term visits over a 12-month period, in a high-security penal colony - 3/3. In a colony settlement you can meet with relatives an unlimited number of times;
depending on the conditions of stay (regular, light, strict). For example, in the same general regime penal colony, a person in light conditions may be provided with 6 long and 6 short-term meetings (2/2, respectively, for a person in strict conditions). In a maximum security colony, 4 long-term and 4 short-term visits can be granted in light conditions, and 1/2 in strict conditions. The number of meetings may be reduced due to violations of the order of serving the sentence. For example, in a correctional colony, a convicted person will be deprived of a short-term meeting if there is a disciplinary sanction with placement in a disciplinary cell.

You can read more about under what circumstances convicts are transferred to light or strict conditions of stay in a correctional institution in our separate article.

The first meeting is granted to a person sentenced to imprisonment immediately after arrival in the colony, regardless of whether he has recently met with loved ones or not.

Long meetings are not provided if the convicted person:

is in a medical institution, short ones are provided instead;
resides in strict conditions of a prison or a special regime colony, as well as in an educational colony;
is serving an urgent penalty (for example, in a punishment cell, cell-type premises or solitary confinement).

How many visits are allowed under strict regime?

Now let's move on to those who were sentenced to imprisonment in maximum security colonies. Here, too, there are two forms of serving the sentence: 1. Under normal conditions; 2. In easier conditions. A prisoner serving a sentence in a maximum security colony under normal conditions is allowed three long-term visits in prison and three short-term visits per year. If he is in a lighter position, then the number of visits in the colony will be the same as under the general regime - 4 long-term and 4 short-term per year.

What else do you need to know

During the entire long meeting you will not be allowed to leave the territory or even the building. If you have any questions, you should contact the correctional colony security.

What you can and cannot take with you on a long visit to prison is better to check with the administration of the institution itself.

Most colonies have tiles in the room so you can cook food. Keep this in mind when collecting food.

If the administration of a correctional colony or prison behaves unlawfully, then it is better not to prove that you are right, but to immediately file a complaint with higher management or come with your lawyer.

How many dates are allowed under a special regime?

The situation is even more difficult and complicated for those who are in a special regime of detention. Here the number of dates will be less: 1. Under normal conditions – 2 long-term and 2 short-term; 2. In a light mode - 3 long and 3 short-term. For you and me, the difference of one date may seem small, but from a psychological point of view, for people isolated from society for educational purposes, every date with a loved one becomes almost a holiday. Therefore, for people who have committed more serious crimes, such a privilege as a long “date” in prison can not only be reduced, but also canceled if his behavior does not comply with internal regulations.

How to get a date outside the colony settlement?

But the most comfortable and attractive conditions for dating on the territory of prisons are dates in a colony-settlement. Because the number of meetings with relatives and friends there is not limited, and sometimes meetings outside the colony are allowed. To receive a visit outside the prison territory, you must: 1. Comply with the internal regulations of the prison; 2. Write an application with a request for a visit outside the prison territory addressed to the head of the colony of the settlement, or to the name of the person replacing him.

At the request of a convicted person imprisoned in a general regime, he can remain in custody in a pre-trial detention center, where he was awaiting a court decision. To do this, he needs to express his desire to remain in the housekeeping squad.

If a person remains in jail, he is guaranteed parole if he works hard, as well as unlimited short-term visits of up to four hours and long visits.

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How many meetings can you expect and how do they take place under normal conditions?

The law stipulates that both suspects and accused persons have the right to 2 visits per month. Both relatives and other people can come to the meeting, but no more than 2 adults.

Please note that usually, if you cannot document your relationship with the prisoner, a visit may be denied.

The number of meetings with a lawyer is not limited.

In a pre-trial detention center, no more than 2 visits per month with relatives and friends are allowed. The number of meetings with a lawyer is unlimited

The duration of each meeting cannot exceed 3 hours. No more than 2 adults can visit a suspect or accused at the same time.

Before the visit begins, those who come to the pre-trial detention center are told the general rules. If any of them are violated, the meeting ends.

A visit may be denied in the following cases:

the person came to the pre-trial detention center drunk;
no identification card;
the visitor is not listed on the official permit.

Any meeting is conducted under the supervision of the detention center staff. For this purpose, a special room is equipped with dividing partitions. They eliminate the possibility of transferring prohibited items, but do not interfere with the conversation.

The dialogue is conducted using an intercom (telephone), and is usually listened to by the pre-trial detention center staff.

Visits can be terminated early in two cases:

if a visitor tries to transfer food, prohibited items or substances to a person in custody;
if an attempt is recorded to transmit information that may interfere with the investigation against the accused.

Application for a date: how to draw up, sample and other documents

A visit to a prisoner is granted on the basis of an application, which is drawn up according to the general rules of business proceedings and submitted to:

investigator in a criminal case at the investigation stage and before the case is transferred to court. Be prepared that the investigator will refuse you and avoid meeting with you, since this is usually not beneficial for him;
judges (when the case has already been brought to court) or
the head of a specific pre-trial detention center (if the sentence has already entered into force, but the convict has not yet been transferred to a colony).

In order to write it, you will need to physically come to the investigator, judge or pre-trial detention center and submit it in person.

If the investigator refuses you, then you need to receive a written refusal and contact a higher authority with it.

A sample of such a statement can be found on the Internet.

Based on the application, permission to visit is issued.

Please note that you will also need a document proving your identity (usually a passport and a marriage certificate).

Meeting with a lawyer

The number of meetings with a lawyer is not regulated by law.

The meeting with the lawyer does not take place through a partition, but in a separate room where you can communicate directly without glass or bars.

At this moment, a FSIN employee has the right only to observe the meeting, but not to listen in, and such negotiations are not recorded.

Meeting with a notary

A meeting with a notary is provided if the prisoner is conducting business, mainly so that the entrepreneur issues the necessary powers of attorney to conduct business on his behalf.

Meetings with a notary, as well as with a lawyer, are provided without restrictions on their number and duration. The pre-trial detention center officer can visually observe how the meeting takes place, but not listen to the conversation.

What not to do

You cannot bring or use video, audio or other equipment (phones, computers, tablets, etc.) on a date.

The meeting will be terminated early IF:

an attempt to transfer prohibited items, substances or food products will be recorded;
an attempt will be recorded to transmit information that may interfere with establishing the truth in a criminal case or contribute to the commission of a crime.

Visits have begun to be allowed in colonies - what restrictions are in place now due to COVID-19

In many prisons across the country, both short and long visits have ceased during the pandemic. Due to the stabilization of the situation regarding the spread of the virus, such restrictions have begun to be lifted.

From April 1, meetings will again become available in the Trans-Baikal Territory, Oryol, Kirov, Voronezh, and some other regions.

It is proposed to hold meetings in specialized rooms, which will be separated by glass, wearing personal protective equipment, maintaining a distance between those meeting and using disinfectants. If the rules are violated, the meeting will be interrupted.

It is planned to organize strict control over all strangers entering the institution - measuring body temperature, checking the general condition of the body. If there are signs of a viral disease, the person will not be allowed to see you.

To visit a specialized institution, one of the following documents will be required:
- information about completing the entire course of vaccination against coronavirus;
-antibody test result;
-negative PCR test for COVID-19.

There is no exact information about long-term meetings yet. They are expected to be by appointment and on a first-come, first-served basis among inmates, with reduced occupancy levels in visiting rooms.

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