Right to communicate
Whilst in prison, you should be able to maintain relationships with your family and other persons as normally as possible.
This includes your right to meet them in person at least as many times as reasonably necessary for maintaining a relationship with them.
During these meetings, you should be able to talk to your family members directly without having a separating wall between you. You should also be able to have some physical contact (such as a hug or holding hands) with your family members, even during short visits.
Visitation permit
Even though maintaining relationships is a right, family members and other persons who wish to visit you must obtain a visitation permit first. Rules to obtain one may vary, depending on your status and whether the visitor is a family member, or someone else. Read more about the visitation permit.
What human rights violation may there be?
If your visits are unlawfully restricted and monitored, namely, in situations that are not allowed by law, where restrictions are unnecessary or too strict for your case, this may result in the violation of your privacy and family life.
If the head of your prison has denied you a visit or applied unlawful monitoring methods, you should complain to the Director of the Latvian Prison Administration. Read more about how to complain.
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