There is no preparation for imprisonment in a pre-trial detention center in advance, so those who find themselves in a similar situation enter the pre-trial detention center with a minimum set of things. In this connection, it is the duty of relatives and friends to provide the person in trouble with everything necessary for life, respectively, within the framework of legal restrictions. For relatives and friends of those who find themselves in pre-trial detention centers and other correctional institutions, of course, the initial task and desire is to provide prisoners with certain means of life. This article will discuss what requirements are established for the transferred products and how to carry out the transfer correctly.
A limited list of things and products can be transferred to a pre-trial detention center.
What can be transferred to a pre-trial detention center?
First, you need to determine what a prisoner is, in principle, allowed to have with him. A detailed list is provided in:
Order of the Ministry of Justice of October 14, 2005 N 189 “On approval of the internal regulations of pre-trial detention centers of the penal system”, namely in “Appendix 2” - this is the “List of essential items, shoes, clothing and other industrial goods, as well as food products that suspects and accused persons may carry, store, receive in parcels and transfers, and purchase by bank transfer.”
It’s worth noting right away that the list is quite impressive, even despite the specifics of this institution.
So, the prisoner is allowed to have with him:
- clothes in one set (including the established pattern) without waist belts, suspenders and ties, shoes without arch supports, metal heels: shirt;
- suit (jacket), trousers;
- dress;
- skirt, shorts;
- sweater (jacket);
- summer/demi-season jacket;
- winter jacket (coat, sheepskin coat, fur coat);
- tracksuit or dressing gown for women;
- demi-season sports hat (cap, baseball cap), headscarf;
- winter hat (cap, baseball cap);
- gloves (mittens);
- summer/demi-season shoes;
- winter shoes;
- sports shoes;
- slippers;
- underwear no more than 4 sets:
underpants;
- socks (knee socks);
- bra;
- T-shirt (t-shirt);
- stockings (tights), leggings;
- handkerchiefs (knitted, paper);
- toiletries (toilet, laundry soap, toothpaste (powder), dental floss, toothbrush, plastic cases for soap and toothbrush, comb, comb, nail clippers without sharp elements and files, cotton swabs, cotton pads);
- electric razor, disposable safety razors;
- duffel bag or bag;
- glasses and plastic cases for glasses;
- hand cream (face, body), gauze, hairpins, Vaseline, cotton wool, sanitary tampons, pads, cosmetics, plastic curlers (for women);
- crutches, wooden canes, prostheses (with a doctor’s permission);
- a factory-made household electric boiler or electric kettle with a power of no more than 0.6 kW;
- with the doctor's permission, an electric tonometer, a glucometer, a hearing aid, consumables and batteries for them;
- a washcloth or sponge, a foam sponge for washing dishes;
- ballpoint or gel fountain pen, refills for it (black, purple, blue), a simple pencil;
- writing paper, notebooks, plastic files or folders, postal envelopes, postcards, postage stamps;
- toilet paper, including those issued or purchased in a store (stall);
- religious items for body or pocket wear;
- plain white or beige bed linen in one set (two sheets and a pillowcase), towels (no more than 2 pieces), a textile sleep mask, earplugs;
- literature and periodicals from the library of the pre-trial detention center or purchased through the administration in the trading network, with the exception of materials with extremist, erotic and pornographic content;
- photo cards;
- board games (checkers, chess, dominoes, backgammon);
- plastic or aluminum mug, plastic plate, spoon, fork (plastic mug and cutlery should be intended for hot dishes and reusable);
- diapers, including disposable, disposable diapers;
- child care items, children's clothing (for women with children under three years of age).
A prisoner is allowed to have all of the above, respectively, within reasonable limits and quantities; the same list applies to what can be transferred in parcels and packages.
It is also worth considering that according to the aforementioned Order of the Ministry of Justice No. 189, the prisoner is provided with the following items for personal use:
- bedding: mattress, pillow, blanket;
- bed linen: two sheets and pillowcases;
- towel;
- tableware and cutlery: bowl (for meals), mug, spoon;
- clothes for the season (if you don’t have your own);
- books and magazines from the library;
- soap;
- Toothbrush;
- toothpaste (tooth powder);
- disposable razor (for men).
For general use in cells, in accordance with established standards and based on the number of persons held in them, the following are issued:
- laundry soap;
- toilet paper;
- periodicals from the library of the pre-trial detention center;
- board games: checkers, chess, dominoes, backgammon;
- camera cleaning items;
- sewing needles, scissors, knives for cutting food (can be issued to suspects and accused persons for short-term use under the control of the administration).
Taking this into account, unless absolutely necessary, at the request of a prisoner, items from this list should be selected wisely, taking into account the weight restrictions of transfers and parcels. For pre-trial detention centers, the maximum monthly volume of transfers should not exceed 30 kilograms.
Famous "refrigerators"
The premises are located in the old prison building and are considered the most terrible. On the ground floor of pre-trial detention center 1 (Minsk) there are several basement “refrigerators”. They are a small room with a bed, a toilet and a small window. The room got its name because of the terrible conditions: it is cold and damp even in summer, the temperature never rises above 14 degrees.
“Refrigerators” are also called special corridors. There are 16 of them in total. The premises have an armored door with a guard assigned to it. Initially, dangerous rebels and convicted organized crime leaders were sent here. Prisoners who simply needed to be hidden well also ended up here.
It was really difficult to find a person in the special corridors. The walls of the cells are a meter thick, and no sound penetrates through them. There is dead silence in the room. It is very difficult to be in such conditions.
There is no connection with the outside world in the “refrigerator”: the telephone, radio and television equipment do not pick up signals. There is not enough lighting in the room, so writing and reading there is also impossible. What can prisoners do in special corridors? Just think about life and sleep 16 hours a day. Moreover, sleep in a cell is unlikely to be restful and long. Almost all prisoners complain of constant nightmares. The human psyche breaks down very quickly in a “refrigerator”.
What is prohibited from transferring from products
The restrictions that apply to food products are as logical as possible, given the technical equipment of the cells in the pre-trial detention center. The following types of products are prohibited:
- food products that need to be cooked, that is, everything that requires heat treatment - meat, fish, cereals;
- products packaged in vacuum containers - milk, sausages, canned foods;
- products with a sell-by date (expiration date) of less than 3 days (72 hours);
- products requiring storage temperatures below +8 degrees.
Recommended Content
The recommendations that will be given below were voiced directly by those who have encountered or have relationships with the pre-trial detention center.
Recommended package contents:
- Cigarettes. It’s not just that they say that in such establishments the main currency is cigarettes. Even if the recipient of the parcel does not smoke, include a couple of cartons of cigarettes; they will not take up much space, but will bring some benefits.
- Vegetable oil and bouillon cubes. Quite a popular product, as it is added to most dishes to improve the taste.
- Tea coffee. Tea is only loose leaf, coffee is limited and sometimes confiscated, but you can try pouring it into a regular plastic bag. Don’t skimp on the tea, some always goes away, as they say on the common fund.
- Vermicelli. Instant cooking only, which requires hydration with hot water rather than standard cooking.
- Cookies/gingerbreads. There is also no point in regretting it, since it will sell out quickly.
- Sugar. In strictly limited quantities - no more than 2 kg, in order to avoid moonshine. Instead of sugar, you can put honey, it does not spoil and is not subject to restrictions.
- Onion garlic. Also popular as flavoring additives. Choose only small heads.
- Salo. Only salty and in a plastic bag.
- Dried fruits. Fruits are, of course, tasty and healthy, but they cannot be stored for long, so dried fruits are an ideal replacement. The weight is minimal, and the volume is significant, and the benefits and taste are preserved.
- Candies. It is best to send caramel and, if possible, without wrappers. Choose without any frills - you might not miss it, everyone’s favorite “barberry” is an ideal option.
It’s worth saying right away that everything transmitted is thoroughly checked:
- blocks and packs of cigarettes are opened, and sometimes the cigarettes themselves are broken;
- bakery products are cut into pieces;
- Everything bulk is poured, and liquid is poured into another container.
Daily regime
The address where pre-trial detention center 1 (Minsk) is located is Volodarskogo, 2. The following daily routine is established for prisoners in prison: wake up at 06.00, and lights out at 22.00. The corridor duty officer makes a tour of the cells 2 times a day. The lights in the rooms do not turn off even at night.
Prisoners go on walks (every other day) lasting no more than 2 hours. For these purposes, the prison has special courtyards with an area of 20-40 square meters. m.
Once a week, prisoners are sent to a “bathhouse”. It is a shared shower where everyone can stay for no more than 30 minutes. During this time, you need to have time not only to wash yourself, but also to wash the necessary things. On bathing day, the sheets and pillowcases in the cells are also changed.
How to send
There are three main options for sending a parcel to a prisoner in a pre-trial detention center:
- in person;
- through the internal store of the detention center;
- through specialized online stores.
Story
The pre-trial detention center on Volodarka, as it is usually called, is located in the building of an old castle. The residence was built in 1825. The customer was Mr. Rudolf Pischallo. However, the city authorities at that time were not satisfied with the new building in the city, and they decided to buy it. After a successful transaction, the castle quickly turned into a fortress.
Famous rebels, writers and poets, scientists and cultural figures were imprisoned in Belarusian prison. The walls of pre-trial detention center 1 (Minsk) saw the rebel K. Kalinovsky, the famous Belarusian playwright V. Dunin-Martinkevich, the poets Y. Kolos and A. Garun.
During the Stalinist repressions, 36 people were shot in prison, who during their lives made a significant contribution to the development of Belarusian culture, science, and art.
There was also a case of escape from the famous colony. Felix Dzerzhinsky managed to come up with a plan and implement it. According to historical reports, this was the only person who managed to escape from the walls of the terrible colony.
In person
When applying to a pre-trial detention center in person, you will need to fill out an application for transfer, which requires the following information:
- your last name, first name and patronymic as the sender, as well as the exact address of residence and degree of relationship with the prisoner;
- Full name and date of birth of the addressee, with the addition of a request for transfer;
- further, a list (inventory) of transferred food products is indicated;
- date and signature.
After filling out the application, an inspection is carried out, then the responsible employee puts his signature and date in the “Checked” column. Also, both the employee who will directly hand over the parcel and the recipient himself put their signature.
Through the internal store of the pre-trial detention center
Most pre-trial detention centers are equipped with an internal kiosk (shop) that sells everything you need. The main advantage of this method is that everything on sale has already been tested, so if you use these services, most of what is transferred will reach the recipient intact, this is especially important for cigarettes.
The sender will need to contact the financial department of the detention center and fill out an application in 3 copies. This application will indicate a complete list of products desired for transfer; further, the application is paid by the sender and the transfer to the prisoner is carried out. An application form and sample will be issued directly upon application.
Through online stores
Currently, there are many Internet services that independently send parcels to the pre-trial detention center, that is, they act as intermediaries between the sender and the pre-trial detention center.
It is worth highlighting such a service as “https://www.sizo-mag.ru”. The assortment of this store is extensive, for example, there are more than 130 items of confectionery products alone.
In order to place an order, you will need to do the following:
- Fill the “Basket” with the necessary products from the offered range, taking into account the weight indicated in the item name.
- Next, you need to click on the “Place an order” button.
- Select one of the proposed delivery options. On this resource, delivery is carried out by Russian Post and can be issued as a regular shipment or as express.
- Finally, you will need to fill in the recipient and sender information and pay for the purchase. You should take filling out the data as seriously as possible; you should not make mistakes either in the name of the institution or in the full name and date of birth of the recipient.
The online store “https://zakazperedachi.ru” is also quite popular. It offers more than 500 types of goods permitted for transfer, and the delivery time varies depending on the remoteness of the pre-trial detention center in Russia, but usually does not take more than 3 - 5 working days. After delivery, the sender will receive an SMS notification of successful delivery and receipt.
