All Hungarian prisoners get cell phones

According to borsonline.hu, it was forbidden until now, but now it will be available for the prisoners to use cell phones behind bars.

Cell phones in prison? Using the devices has been strictly forbidden so far. Not just the prisoners, but also the visitors could have phones; everyone had to give their phones. Now, however, the situation changes, according to newspaper Bors – in line with the EU practice – prisoners get an own phone in the Hungarian prisons as well.

The devices will be distributed within weeks; the measure applies to everyone regardless of who spends the punishment for what. In other words: from the simple thief to the murderer sentenced to life imprisonment everyone will get a phone.

Special phones

Borsonline.hu knows the prisoners get a special uniform device. Of course, it is not a smartphone, but a type with basic functions, which is break-resistant and impossible to dismantle. Thus, in principle, there is no opportunity to manipulate the phone’s capabilities. Keeping in touch will also be bound by strict rules. The detainees have registered contact persons, who mainly come from the kinship circle. From the phone, only the designated contact person’s number can be called, which means that machine will be available to call the given 5-6 numbers.

It cannot be called

The device is calibrated only for outgoing calls, it cannot receive calls. As in the previous, in the case of conversations conducted by landline telephones, the penal institution eavesdrops the conversations of the detainees. The website has no information the cost incurred for the National Headquarters of Prison Service, but considering that 18 thousand prisoners serving their sentence, the amount could be tens of millions of forints.

No risk

Criminal-Psychologist Dr. Jozsef Vegh has dealt with prisoners for many years.

“In my opinion, this is a great measure, which makes the lives of not just the detainees, but also the prison staff easier” – Vegh said. “The most important event of the everyday life of the inmates is keeping in touch. The cell phone strengthens the ties to the relatives, it soothes the detainees. Earlier they were in contact by correspondence with the outside world, and I remember it caused huge tensions if the letter hadn’t arrived on time. I don’t see a risk-increasing factor, the detainees are not crazy, they know the penal institute listens the conversation, they won’t discussed via phone, if they want to escape” – the expert added.

based on the article of borsonline.hu
translated by BA

Source: borsonline.hu