Germany
Capital city — Berlin
Latest updates
The prison service allows access to Internet
in some states
Internet use in prison is debated. Pilot projects are run to allow prisoners to access employment agencies and one probation assistance website. This is the case in the state of Thuringia. All other websites are blocked.
Thep risoners in safe custody (Sicherungsverwahrte) from Rosdorf prison (Göttingen) are rallying for provision of internet access. They have access to seven websites. These sites are censored.
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The Berlin Justice senator, Dirk Behrendt, announced that prisoners in the capital would have access to the internet. Prisoners would be able to access the press and learning resources online. Social media would remain inaccessible. Prisoners would be charged for the internet access.
Individual acts of protest are recorded
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A prisoner at Goldlauter Prison went on several hunger strikes, self-harmed and attempted suicide. He was protesting against being placed in isolation and the harassment he has been subjected to since December 2020. He has now filed a complaint to the Thuringian State Parliament Petitions Committee.
The prison service offers activities to prisoners
yes
There are not enough activities to offer to all prisoners outside of work or education.
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In early February, the detection of a positive COVID-19 case in Hamm prison led to the suspension of activities, visits and outings, in order to prevent the spread of the pandemic within the prison.
Prisoners are allowed to make external phone calls
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Prepaid mobile telephones have been offered to inmates in Hamburg prison for 20 euros. SIM cards and telephone credit must be purchased by family members outside the prison. The telephones will be returned when the health crisis is over. Tablet computers intended for video calls have been made available to inmates in a prison in North-Rhine Westphalia for 30 minutes a week. Slots for telephone calls have been extended from 35 minutes a week to 10 minutes a day.