You should be allowed to communicate with the outside world freely using various methods of communication such as letters or the telephone. Certain means of communication such as mobile phones may be restricted or prohibited due to security concerns.
Letters
You are allowed to send and receive an unlimited number of letters while you are in prison. Generally, you will have to pay for sending your letters to family friends and other contacts. Letters addressed to the Chancellor of Justice, prisons, the President's Office, prosecutor, investigator or court are sent at the expense of the prison.
If you have less than € 12.78 during past 6 months in your prison and you have not been insured by the prison with work you are allowed to receive one sheet of white paper in A4 format each working day per letter which is eligible to be sent at the expense of prison.
Correspondence is effected pursuant to the procedure provided for in the internal rules of the prison. The prison service will verify with whom you communicates by corresponds - the prison service has the right to register the given name and surname of the addressee or the name and address of the institution to whom you write and the date of mailing the letter. A prison service officer will open letters sent by or to you in the presence of you, unless they are to or from your criminal defence counsel, a representative who is an advocate, the Chancellor of Justice, a prosecutor, a court or the Ministry of Justice.
Telephone conversations
While you are in prison, you may call your relatives using the prison telephone. You or the person receiving your call must pay for it. You are not allowed to use a mobile phone in prison.
The number of calls and the length of your conversations may be restricted. A prison service officer may restrict your right of using a telephone if such right endangers the security or violates the order of the prison or damages the objectives of execution of imprisonment. The prison service will verify with whom you communicate by telephone - the prison service has the right to register the given name and surname of the person or the name of the institution to whom you make the telephone call, the telephone number, time and duration of the call.
It is prohibited to restrict your right of using a telephone for communication with state agencies, local governments or their officials or with your criminal defence counsel or a representative who is an advocate.
Use of telephone shall be effected pursuant to the procedure provided for in the internal rules of the prison. It should be pointed out that you have the obligation to provide the data about the people you want to be in contact via phone.
What human rights violation may there be?
Your communication with the outside world may be restricted, and if not done lawfully, may violate your right to a private and family life. Read more about the lawfulness of restrictions.
For restrictions on correspondence with your lawyer or state institutions, read the section on privileged correspondence.