Munich (dpa / lby) – The prisoners in the 36 Bavarian prisons should be able to call their families longer and more often than before. This is provided for in a draft law that was passed by the cabinet and is now in the state parliament for deliberation, as Bavaria’s Minister of Justice Georg Eisenreich (CSU) announced on Tuesday.
Until now, prisoners were only allowed to use the phone in exceptional cases. During the corona pandemic, however, the regulations were relaxed. Video telephony with family members has also become possible in several prisons. The experiences are mostly positive. Therefore, the possibilities should now be permanently established.
“In addition to protecting the general public, the rehabilitation of prisoners is the top priority in the Bavarian prison system,” said Eisenreich. “Phone calls can help maintain social bonds and thereby prevent relapse.”
The expansion of telephoning should make it easier for prisoners to return to an orderly life. At the same time, however, it must also be prevented that prisoners organize their escape over the phone or plan further crimes. “Aspects of security and order, but also the protection of victims, must therefore also be taken into account in the discretionary decision,” explained the minister.
