Prohibition of Prisoners' Use of Phones During Visitation and Consular Contacts

Illustrative image (Source: Internet)

According to Article 2 of Circular 17/2020/TT-BCA, several regulations for visitors and consular contacts were issued. To be specific:

- When visiting the detention facility, visitors must strictly comply with the regulations of the restricted area, dress neatly, cleanly, and politely; present all necessary documents for visiting and consular contact with detainees; strictly follow the guidelines from responsible officers concerning the time and place for visiting and consular contact, and maintain environmental hygiene. When work hours end, visitors are not allowed to stay at the workplace or visit area without permission.- Visitors are prohibited from making unauthorized contact with detainees; bringing in, using, or lending banned items, various publications, and materials with inciting or antagonistic content, or items that might compromise the security and safety of the prison.- Using mobile phones or giving them to detainees or others, as well as other communication devices, recording or filming devices, during visits and consular contacts is strictly prohibited. Recording or filming inside the detention facility and areas marked with "No filming or photography" is not allowed. Inciting, assisting, encouraging, or coercing detainees or others to resist or violate the regulations of the detention facility by any means is also prohibited.- No behaviors, gestures, words, or actions of cultural insensitivity, arguments, or insults towards officers or others are allowed; exploiting visits and consular contacts to provoke, gather, make statements, act, or use banners, slogans, or materials with propagandistic or inciting content, disrupting security and order is strictly prohibited.- Visitors and consular contacts with detainees have the right to provide feedback, make suggestions, reflect, or file complaints and denunciations against any violations of the law related to the activities of the detention facility.

For more details, see Circular 17/2020/TT-BCA, effective from April 3, 2020.

Le Hai

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