For family members and relatives

The Czech Prison Service can provide information about prisoners only to entities stipulated by the law (Act No. 555/1992) and other bodies that can prove their legal claim.

It is not possible to find out if the relative you are looking for is/is not imprisoned by simply making a phone call or sending an e-mail to the prison administration. 

In order to find out if the person you are looking for is imprisoned in the Czech Republic, you can either prove your legal claim (see here), or write a letter (please see the next FAQ "How do I contact a prisoner by mail?") and wait for the prisoner to reply (if they are imprisoned and wish to reply).

I know where the prisoner is located

• On an envelope, state the whole address of the prison (find it here) and the prisoner's full name and date of birth
• On the other side, state your (return) address

I do not know where the prisoner is located 

• You need two envelopes
• State the prisoner's full name and date of birth on the first one; from the other side, state your (return) address
• Put this first envelope into the second one, onto which state the following address:

Vězeňská služba České republiky

Generální ředitelství

Odbor správní, CEVO

P.O.  BOX 3      

Soudní 1672 / 1a

PRAHA  4, 140 67

It is always a prisoner who makes a phone call, you cannot call directly to the prisoner. The phone numbers have to be approved by a prison employee upon the prisoner's earlier request. 

The easiest way to send money from abroad is to use a dedicated bank account (individual for each prison). You can find the bank account number, variable code, IBAN and BIC in profiles of individual prisons. 

A prisoner has to submit a request for a visit. Once this request is approved, your imprisoned relative can contact you with more details regarding the actual visit (e.g. the exact visit time etc.).

The main rules regarding visits are:

• Maximum number of visitors: 4
• Total visiting time for pre-trail detainees: 90 minutes / per two weeks*
• Total visiting for convicted prisoners: 3 hours / per 1 month*

*these rules do not apply to the visits of prisoners' legal representatives

The prisoner phone system is provided by the company Telio (BVfon). You can top up a prisoner's phone card by using the dedicated web app.

In order to successfully top up the phone card, you will need an 8-digit-pin-code provided by the prisoner. 

Please note that the maximum amount on the phone card at any given moment is 3.000 CZK.

Yes, there are several main types of parcels you can send to a prisoner:

General parcel type

• Up to 5kg / non-perishable food / items for personal use (cosmetics etc.)
• 1x/per 3 months in pre-trial detention
• 1x/per 6 months for convicted prisoners

Other types 

• Parcels containing clothes and items used for treatment programmes/leisure time activities (requires prison management assent) - no weight limitations / no parcels-per-year limitations
• Parcels containing books, magazines, newspapers or material used to send letters - no weight limitations / no parcels-per-year-limitations