Luxembourg's Prison Administration has announced the implementation of strengthened preventative measures in detention centres with immediate effect to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
In this context, the Prison Administration has decided to suspend all physical visits to Luxembourg's detention centres. Since the virus may spread at high speed in confined spaces, visits will remain suspended until further notice. At present, the main aim pursued by the administration is still to prevent the virus from entering the prisons.
At Schrassig Prison, the country's only closed penitentiary, visiting rooms equipped to conduct interviews via Skype will be made available to prisoners allowing them to maintain contact with their families (i.e. relatives up to the second degree and / or spouses or partners). To this end, the number of visiting rooms has been significantly increased.
At Givenich Prison, Sunday outings and the right to take criminal leave have also been temporarily suspended. This measure has been taken following the safety instructions adopted by the government, in particular the limitation of social contact and traffic on public roads. Inmates at Givenich Prison generally have a mobile phone and can use the on-site telephone booths.
Previous restrictions set out on Friday 13 March 2020, namely the suspension of various activities and limitation of movement, remain in force. However, these restrictions do not affect the prisoners' right to walk outdoors.
At present, there are no transfers of individuals from one detention center to another and all new entrants are quarantined.
Over the past few weeks, the Prison Administration has anticipated various scenarios to deal with the spread of coronavirus and has implemented a plan which provides for different courses of action adapted according to the level of alert. The administration has confirmed that it is continuing to carry out its missions on a reduced service in order to limit the movement of people and movement on public roads in accordance with government instructions.
