Is it Allowed to Visit a Friend Who is in Prison?

Article 4 of Circular 14/2020/TT-BCA stipulates the subjects allowed to visit inmates as follows:

- Relatives allowed to visit inmates include: paternal grandparents; maternal grandparents; biological father, biological mother; father-in-law, mother-in-law (or parents-in-law); legal adoptive parents; spouse; biological children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, legal adopted children; biological siblings, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law; siblings-in-law (or spouses' siblings); paternal aunts, maternal uncles, paternal uncles, maternal aunts, biological nephews/nieces. Each visitation session shall have a maximum of 03 relatives. In special cases requiring educational rehabilitation, the Head of the detention facility may decide to increase the number of visiting relatives to a maximum of 05 people, provided that the inmate's meeting with relatives does not affect the security and safety of the detention facility.

- In cases where representatives of agencies, organizations, or other individuals request to visit inmates, the Head of the detention facility shall review and resolve if it is deemed appropriate with the legitimate interests of the inmate as well as the requirements for managing, educating, rehabilitating inmates and preventing crime.

Therefore, you, as a close friend, are not included in the list of relatives allowed to visit inmates.

However, if you wish to visit the inmate, you can request a review and resolution from the Head of the detention facility. If it is deemed appropriate with the legitimate interests of the inmate as well as the requirements for managing, educating, rehabilitating inmates and preventing crime, you will be allowed to visit the inmate.

Respectfully!