Information & News | Country Specific Information

This page contains information about prison conditions and criminal justice systems around the world. This includes factsheets we have written, as well as links to other internet pages which we have found useful or informative. We hope this information will help you to become more familiar with particular overseas prison or legal systems. If you have found websites or other resources you feel would be of interest to others, please email us at info@prisonersabroad.org.uk to make a suggestion.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure these documents and links are accurate and up to date, situations do change. If you spot an error in any document, or a broken link, please let us know by emailing info@prisonersabroad.org.uk. All external links open in a new browser window. These websites are not affiliated with Prisoners Abroad in any way, and we cannot be held responsible for any of the information they contain. If you believe that any sites we link to are inaccurate please contact them directly. We would be grateful if you would also email us so that we can remove the link.

Please note that these leaflets are in pdf format, so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. This can be downloaded for free from the Adobe website. Alternatively, please contact us if you would like us to send you copies in the post. You can email us at info@prisonersabroad.org.uk or phone us on 0808 172 0098. To write to us by post, please see our contact details page.

Please use the menu below to select the initial letter of the country on which you would like information:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Argentina

Useful external links:

• The British Embassy in Buenos Aires has a list of local lawyers available on their website.

Australia

Useful external links:

• The British High Commission in Australia provides a list of local lawyers, as well as information for prisoners (and their families and friends) in each Australian state.
• The website of the Department for Correctional Services in South Australia has information about all prisons in that territory.
• The Department of Corrective Services in New South Wales provides details about correctional centres in NSW.
• The website of the Victorian Department of Justice has a section about prisons, including visiting information and prison profiles.
• The Queensland Corrective Services have a Family and Friends section on their website with prison locations, visiting regulations and other useful information.
• The website of the Department of Justice for the Northern Territory gives information about the Darwin Correctional Centre and the Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
• The website of the Tasmanian Prison Service offers information for family, friends and children of prisoners.
• The Department of Corrective Services in Western Australia provides information about all prisons in the territory.
• The Australian Institute of Criminology has information about all prisons in Australia.

Austria

Useful external links:

• The Austrian Ministry of Justice has webpages (in English) with information about Austrian courts, detention centres and the probation service.
• A list of Englsih-speaking lawyers, translators and interpreters is available on the website of the British Embassy in Vienna.

Belgium

Useful external links:

• The website of the Belgian Ministry of Justice has addresses for all prisons in that country.
• There is section entitled 'When things go wrong', offering a list of local lawyers and detailing the help you can expect from British Consular staff on the website of the UK in Belgium (part of the British Foreign Office).

Bolivia

Useful external links:

• The UK in Bolivia website has some useful information about the support they can offer to relatives and friends of people detained in Bolivia.

Brazil

Prisoners Abroad has two factsheets covering Brazil:

• Brazil: criminal justice system factsheet (file size: 80KB)
• Brazil: general prison information factsheet (file size: 69KB)

Useful external links:

• There is advice on the help you can expect from the British Consular staff if you are arrested in Brazil on the website of the UK in Brazil (part of the British Foreign Office).

Canada

Prisoners Abroad has produced a factsheet with information on the rules concerning deportation from Canada.

• Canada: deportation law (file size: 130KB)

Useful external links:

• The British High Commission in Canada has a list of lawyers for each province and territory in the country.
• The website of the Canadian Correctional Service has information on all federal institutions.

China

Useful external links:

• The UK in China website (run by the British Foreign Office) has a page offering advice for those who are arrested or detained in China. You can also find lists of local English-speaking lawyers, available from the link on the left of the page.
• The website www.china.org.cn has a large section devoted to China's judicary. It explains the trial system, the lawyer system, and how the legal assistance program works. There are also details about the legal lystems in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Cyprus

Useful external links:

• The British High Commission has lists of lawyers in the main cities of Cyprus, as well as some lawyers in Northern Cyprus. There is also a Detainee Information pack, available from the link on the left of the page.

Czech Republic

Useful external links:

• The Prison Service of the Czech Republic has an English-language website with basic information about the service, plus some information about each of the prisons in the coutry.
• The website of the UK in the Czech Republic has a page detailing the help they can offer to people who are arrested or detained. They also have lists of translators and English-speaking lawyers (available via the left hand menu).

Denmark

Useful external links:

• The website of the Danish Prison and Probation Service has lots of useful information in English. To access the English-language section, click on "English" in the top-right of the page.
• There is a list of English-speaking lawyers on the website of the British Embassy in Denmark.

Dominican Republic

Useful external links:

• The British Embassy in Santo Domingo has a page devoted to detained British nationals. There is also a list of local lawyers (available from the left hand menu).

Dubai

For Dubai, please see the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ecuador

Prisoners Abroad has produced a factsheet with information on prisons in Ecuador.

• Ecuador: general prison information (file size: 93KB)

Useful external links:

• The website of the UK in Ecuador (part of the British Foreign Office) has a section entitled 'When things go wrong'. Here you will find how they can help if somebody is arrested and a list of English-speaking lawyers.

Egypt

• The website of the Uk in Egypt (part of the British Foreign Office) has a section entitled 'When things go wrong'. Here you will find how they can help if somebody is arrested and a list of English-speaking lawyers.

France

Prisoners Abroad has written the following factsheets on France:

• France: Legal system (remand) (file size: 141KB)
• France: Legal system (release) (file size: 114KB)
• France: General prison information (file size: 108KB)
• France: Customs fines (file size: 76KB)

Useful external links:

• The British Foreign Office has a list of lawyers in France on their consular service for Britons in France website.
• To find an address for a prison in France you can use the website of the French Ministry of Justice. Although the site is in French, you can click on the map to find prison details for every establishment in the country.

Germany

Useful external links:

• The website of the British Embassy in Berlin has details about all British consulates in Germany. If you know somebody who has been arrested in Germany the local consulate is often a good place to contact for information. There is also specific information for prisoners on the main consular page (items 15-17).

Greece

Useful external links:

• There is a lot of useful information on the website of the British Embassy in Athens. There is a section for prisoners which includes information on prison transfer, a useful glossary and details about the Greek legal system. A list of Greek lawyers can also be found on this site.

Hong Kong

Useful external links:

• The British Consulate-General in Hong Kong has a downloadable document offering guidance to British detainees.
• The website of the Hong King Correctional Services has lots of information (in English) about each individual institution and their work in rehabilitating prisoners.

India

Useful external links:

• The British Foreign Office's "UK in India" website has a list of English-speaking lawyers.

Ireland

Useful external links:

• The website for the British Embassy in Dublin, has information about the services they offer.
• The website of the Irish Prison Service gives details about all prisons in the country, including directions to each prison.
• The Law Society of Ireland allows you to search for firms of solicitors by name or location.
• The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a Christian organisation which visit prisons in Ireland.

Italy

Useful external links:

• The Italian Ministry of Justice has webpages in English explaining the justice system and information about prisons.
• The British Embassy in Italy has contact details for all the Consualtes in that country. If you know somebody who has been arrested in Italy the local consulate is often a good place to contact for information. There is also a list of translators and English-speaking lawyers available here.

Jamaica

Useful external links:

• The British High Commission in Kingston has information for those detained in Jamaica. They also have a list of local lawyers (available from the left-hand menu).
• The website of the Department of Correctional Services has a visiting form which you can download and complete if you wish to visit a friend or relative held in Jamaica.

Japan

Useful external links:

• The British Embassy in Japan has a list of lawyers for each prefecture in Japan, along with other useful law links.

Morocco

Prisoners Abroad has a survival guide for prisoners in Morocco, which gives information on health & welfare, key words and phrases in Arabic and an A-Z of legal terms.

• Morocco: Survival guide for prisoners (file size: 255KB)

Useful external links:

• The British Embassy in Rabat offer a range of services, including lists of English-speaking lawyers and translators.

The Netherlands

Useful external links:

• The website of the British Embassy in The Hague has a list of legal practitioners in The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
• It is possible to find addresses for all Dutch prisons on the website of the Dutch Prison Service. Although the site is in Dutch, if you click on the prison name you will be taken to a page giving address details. Two sorts of address are usually given: Bezoekadres is the actual address for visiting, whilst Postadres is the postal address you should use for all mail.
• The Dutch Ministry of Justice produce a series of leaflets in English. All of these leaflets are available on their website, and include some which may be useful for people who have been arrested in The Netherlands. Titles which may be of interest include "Do you need legal assistance?" and "On trial for a criminal offence".

New Zealand

Useful external links:

• The website of the Department of Corrections in New Zealand offers links to pages about every prison in the country.
• The website of the British High Commission has advice and information on the services they can offer, as well as lists of local lawyers.
• NZPARS is an organisation which provides support to offenders and their families in New Zealand. The services they can offer include information, advocacy, and visits.

Pakistan

Useful external links:

• The website of the British High Commission in Islamabad has two 'Prisoner Information Packs', one for those detained in Sindh or Balouchistan and one for those in Punjab, NWFP or Azad Kashmir.

Peru

Useful external links:

• The website of the British Embassy in Lima has advice for people who have been detained in Peru, which may also be helpful to friends and family. You can download a 'Prisoner Information Pack' from this page, and there is also a link to a list of local lawyers, which includes whether or not they can speak English.

Portugal

Useful external links:

• The British Embassy in Lisbon provides information about legal matters and lists of English-speaking lawyers. There is also a link to a page containing specific information for Britons imprisoned in Portugal.

Philippines

Useful external links:

• The website of the UK in the Philippines (part of the British Foreign Office) has a section entitled 'When things go wrong'. Here you will find how they can help if somebody is arrested and a list of English-speaking lawyers based in the Manilla area.

Saudi Arabia

Useful external links:

• You can view a Prison Information Pack on the website of the British Embassy in Riyadh. The pack contains contact details for British Consular Representatives in Saudi Arabia, as well as some information on the criminal justice system of the country.

Singapore

Useful external links:

• The website of the Singapore Prison Service has lots of information, including details about the Changi Prison redevelopment and the programmes they run in their prisons.
• The website of the British High Commission in Singapore contains a list of local lawyers.

South Africa

Prisoners Abroad has a factsheet which explains the basics of the South African criminal justice system:

• South Africa: criminal justice system factsheet (file size: 76KB)

Useful external links:

• The South African Department of Correctional Services has lots of information on its website. In particular, you can view the South African 'Correctonal Services Act' under the Legislation section of the site.
• The website of the British High Commission in South Africa contains information about how the Consular section can help Britons who are in need of assistance, including lists of lawyers.

Spain

Prisoners Abroad has a factsheet which explains the basics of the Spanish legal system:

• Spain: criminal justice system factsheet (file size: 118KB)

Useful external links:

• The website of the British Embassy in Madrid has links to all the British consulates in Spain. This is often a good place to start if you know of somebody who has recently been arrested in Spain. There is also a 'prison pack', containing information about the prison system and the legal procedures in criminal cases.
• The website of the Spanish Ministry of the Interior in Spain has the address of all prisons in Spain. Although the website is in Spanish, as long as you know the area of the prison you are trying to locate it is possible to find the address.

Sweden

Useful external links:

• The website of the British Embassy in Stockholm has contact details for the Embassy as well as a list of public holidays in Sweden.
• The Sweden Prison and Probation Service has lots of information, particularly concerning prison, remand, and treatment programs.

Switzerland

Useful external links:

• The British Embassy in Berne has downloaded lists of English speaking lawyers available on their website.

Thailand

Prisoners Abroad has a survival guide for prisoners in Thailand, which gives information on health & welfare, key words and phrases in Thai and an A-Z of legal terms. A popular section of this handbook, on Amnesties and Pardons, is available to download as a seperate factsheet. We have also compiled a guide for visitors to Bangkwang Central Prison.

• Thailand: Survival guide for prisoners (File size: 308KB)
• Thailand: Amnesties and Pardons (File size: 84KB)
• Thailand: Bankwang Central Prison - A guide for visitors (File size: 74KB)

Useful external links:

• The website of the British Embassy in Bangkok has a list of local lawyers.
• The Department of Corrections in the Thai Ministry of Justice has an English language website. At the bottom of the page are links to the main prisons in Thailand.

Trinidad and Tobago

Useful external links:

• The website of the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has lots of information, including details about all prisons on the islands and the programmes on offer to prisoners.
• The website of the British High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago contains information about the Consular services they provide, contact details and tips for travellers.

Tunisia

Useful external links:

• The website of the British Embassy in Tunisia has some useful notes for people who are arrested there.

United Arab Emirates

Useful external links:

• Fair Trials International have compiled a list of pharmaceutical substances which are prohibited in the UAE. This information is especially useful for people planning a visit to the country, or even to people who will be stopping off during an international flight.
• The Foreign & Commonwealth Office has a Prisoner Information Pack on the website of the British Embassies in the UAE. There is also contact information for the Consuls, as well as a list of local lawyers.

USA

Prisoners Abroad has two factsheets on the USA. One describes the criminal justice system which operates in the federal system. The other is intended for family and friends of people detained there, and describes the differences between the State and the Federal system as well as offering general advice regarding visits, letters, telephone calls and sending money.

• USA: Criminal justice system (Federal system)
  File Size: 107 KB
• USA: Information for family and friends of those detained in the USA
  File Size: 96 KB

Useful external links:

• For details about federal prisons or federal detainees, you can use the website of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For information about individual State prisons, the website of the National Institute of Corrections has links for every state. For more information about the difference between the federal and state systems, please read the Prisoners Abroad factsheet (above).
• The website of the US Department of State, gives useful and detailed information about transfer from the USA – it mainly applies to the Federal system, but the information is also useful for detainees in the state system. For more information about transferring out of the state system please see the website of the Department of Justice.
• The British Foreign Office has a website enabling you to find your nearest consular office. This is often a good place to contact if you have a friend or relative arrested in the USA.
• On the website of the American Civil Liberties Union there are a number of "Know Your Rights" factsheets for prisoners, covering subjects such as medical issues and the legal rights of disabled prisoners.

Venezuela

Prisoners Abroad has a survival guide for prisoners in Venezuela, which gives information on health & welfare, key words and phrases in Spanish and an A-Z of legal terms.

• Venezuela: Survival guide for prisoners (File size: 189KB)

Useful external links:

• The website of the UK in Venezuela (part of the British Foreign Office) has a section entitled 'When things go wrong'. Here you will find how they can help if somebody is arrested and a list of English-speaking lawyers.

Please note that these leaflets are in pdf format, so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. This can be downloaded for free from the Adobe website.