Inmate Correspondence Received and Sent to Relatives Must Undergo Strict Censorship

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To be specific, Circular 14/2020/TT-BCA stipulates that prisoners are allowed to send and receive letters via postal services and when meeting relatives, representatives of agencies, organizations, or other individuals as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 52 and Clause 1, Article 54 of the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments 2019.

However, the Head of the prisoner detention facility must direct the inspection and censorship of letters sent and received by prisoners, and if the content is deemed unsuitable for the management, education, or rehabilitation of prisoners, a record of seizure must be made.

In cases where prisoners frequently violate the regulations of the detention facility, are placed in solitary confinement, or are being disciplined, the Head of the detention facility, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, may limit the prisoner's ability to send and receive letters, but for no more than 3 months. The prisoner detention facility is responsible for informing the prisoner and their relatives about the limitation on sending and receiving letters to ensure compliance.

Note that for prisoners under investigation, prosecution, or trial for other criminal acts, if the handling agency provides a written request to the detention facility to prevent the prisoner from sending and receiving letters, the Head of the detention facility shall consider and comply with the request from the handling agency and inform the prisoner and their relatives to ensure compliance.

View the full text of the regulation at Circular 14/2020/TT-BCA effective from March 26, 2020.

Thu Ba

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