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Portugal

Capital city — Lisbon

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Panorama

Contact with the outside world

Visitation rights

All prisoners have the right to receive visits

yes

There are two types of visits:

  • Regular visits by a family member or a relative. These visits take place twice a week for a maximum of one hour.

  • Extended visits by a family member or a loved one on a special occasion. The visits are put into place six months after the prisoner has been administered.

Prisoners under a security regime are not allowed to receive extended visits.
Prisoners placed in solitary confinement temporarily lose access to their right to receive visits (see Solitary Confinement section).

The prisoner must follow procedures to receive visits, such as providing the administration with the name of the visitor. The visitor will have to obtain a permit to finalise the process.

The visitor must present documents and paperwork as proof of identity and relation to the prisoner. They are then asked to complete a form, which will be given to prison administration. The visitor must obtain a visitor permit within 30 days of completing the paperwork and their first visit, which must then be validated by the Directorate General (DGRSP). Once finalised, the visitor will be authorised to continue their visits.

Visit permits are granted

in less than one month

People eligible to visit

anyone

The law makes no distinction and only indicates that “every inmate has the right to receive visits”. The law also states that visits are intended for maintaining family, emotional and professional ties.

Prisoners may receive two visits a week, each lasting up to one hour. These visits are preferably held on weekends (article 111 of the Rules).). The Institutional Head may authorize the accumulation of both visits on the same day.
The detainee can receive up to three people per visit.
The substitution of one visitor for another during a visit is possible only if the visitor is a minor.
The detained person may, on their birthday, receive up to six visitors.
A visual control is exercised on the occasion of any parlor. This control is sometimes auditory.
The time spent on entry formalities is not counted.

Prisoners and visitors can meet without physical barriers

yes

Usually, there is no separation device present. The parlors of Monsanto Prison, the maximum-security institution, are the only ones with separation facilities.

Prisoners are allowed to receive visits from their children or minor relatives

yes, special arrangements are made

Children under 16 can visit a detained person only if they are a close relative (father, mother, brother or sister). Penitentiary institutions may provide specific spaces for the visit. They are getting closer to a familial environment (article 112 of the Regulations).

Conjugal visits are allowed

yes

Conjugal visits are permitted when the detainee is not granted temporary permission. The law states that these visits are “regular”.
The detained person and the visitor must be over the age of 18, except if they are married (article 120 of the Regulations).
Conjugal visits are authorized by the director of the establishment.

Required conditions for conjugal visits

established relationship

The inmate must, by law, prove a stable relationship. The minimum duration is not specified (article 59 of the Code of Execution of Sentences).

A detained person may apply for one conjugal visit per month. The conjugal visit has a maximum duration of three hours (article 122 of the Regulations).

Conjugal visits take place in an appropriate space. The penitentiary provides detainees with written information on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The visitor is required to bring bed linens (article 123 of the Regulations).

The visitor is not authorized to hand over or receive any object or document directly from the detained person.
They are obliged to go through the penitentiary service. The visitor is authorized to deposit:

  • Foodstuffs (drinks are not allowed)

  • Books and magazines

  • Photos, videos and games

  • Money

Correspondence

Prisoners are allowed to exchange mail

yes, under certain conditions

The prisoner may, at their own expense, send and receive letters (article 67 of the Code of Execution of Sentences).

Mail exchanged is subject to control

yes

Correspondence may be read, on the justified order of the prison director, in the event of a “reasonable suspicion” of a risk to the security of the prison. Correspondence can then be retained. The decision not to send correspondence to the detainee must be sent to a judge. This decision is subject to control. This decision is subject to review: Correspondence is not subject to censorship.

Prisoners are allowed to exchange mail in sealed envelopes

yes

Sealed envelopes are sent by the regulation. Correspondence between the detained person and their lawyer must be confidential (article 61 of the Code of Execution of Sentences).
The correspondence may, in the presence of the detained person, be opened.

Prisoners are allowed to receive parcels

yes, under certain conditions

Detainees can receive parcels once a month. The parcel must not exceed 5 kg. It cannot contain food. The sender must first be registered with the prison administration.
As an exception, some prisoners who do not have regular visitors can receive two parcels per month of 5 kg each. In this case, they can also receive food, within a limit of 1 kg.

E-mail exchange is possible

no

Correspondence by email is possible in certain exceptional situations. It requires a special decision from the prison director. The situation must be particularly urgent or important.

Phone calls

Prisoners are allowed to make external phone calls

yes

Detainees may make calls at their own expense. They may receive calls in the case of particularly important personal or professional situations.
The general regulations of each institution may have restrictions on prisoners placed under a security regime. Decisions to restrict calls are the responsibility of the prison director.

Prisoners are allowed to call

anyone

A detained person has the right to make two phone calls a week of up to 10 minutes each. Each phone call must be the subject of a specific request addressed to the director of the establishment, at least 24 hours in advance (article 49 of the Rules).
The detainee can call their lawyer every day.
The restriction or prohibition of phone calls does not constitute a disciplinary sanction. However, phone calls may be subject to restrictions or prohibitions. Only five numbers are allowed on the calling cards and it is necessary to indicate which ones.

The phones are located

The Council of Ministers approves, in August 2022, a decree-law allowing the installation of in-cell landline telephones. This decree amends the internal regulations of prisons. Usage rules will be defined in each establishment. This decree follows a successful pilot scheme implemented in 2020 and 2021 in the prisons of Linhó, Odemira, Leiria and Santa Cruz do Bispo. The prisoners would be responsible for covering the cost of the calls and must receive prior approval from the prison administration of the numbers they wish to dial.

The cost of phone calls is in line with market prices

yes

Phones calls are wire tapped

yes

Phone conversations are not automatically listened to. However, the director of the institution may decide to do it for security reasons (article 71 of the Code of Execution of Sentences).

The use of cell phones is authorised

no

Prisoners have access to video calls with external contacts

yes

A videoconferencing device is set up for prisoners justifying a long distance. Videoconferencing contacts must be authorized by the prison director at the request of the prisoner. The time during which the visit is interrupted by possible technical difficulties of operation is not considered as visiting time (article 117 of the Regulations).