The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011

Information to be given to prisoners on reception

11.—(1) Paragraphs (2) to (5), and (7) do not apply in relation to a prisoner who is received into prison on transfer from any other prison.

(2) Every prisoner must be informed by the Governor at the time of reception how the prisoner may inform—

(a) up to two persons; and

(b) a legal adviser,

of the prisoner’s reception into prison, and the Governor must make available reasonable facilities for that purpose.

(3) A prisoner who is a foreign national must be informed of his or her entitlement to contact, in addition to the persons mentioned in paragraph (2), a diplomatic representative of the prisoner’s choice.

(4) A prisoner who is a refugee or stateless person must also be informed of his or her entitlement to contact, in addition to the persons mentioned in paragraph (2)—

(a) a diplomatic representative of a state which the prisoner considers may look after his or her interests; and

(b) subject to such limit as to numbers as the Governor may reasonably impose, national or international authorities and organisations whose principal purpose is to serve the interests of refugees or stateless persons or to protect the civil rights of such persons.

(5) A prisoner who is committed to prison on default of payment of any sum of money due to be paid by the prisoner must be informed by the Governor at the time of reception of the facilities available in terms of rule 79 to arrange the making of such payment as will entitle the prisoner to be released from prison.

(6) On reception every prisoner must be provided with information by the Governor concerning the following matters:—

(a) the rules and directions which apply in that prison;

(b) the prison routine and regime;

(c) how the prisoner may make requests and complaints; and

(d) how the prisoner may maintain contact with relatives and friends.

(7) In the case of any prisoner whose date of release can be calculated at the time of reception, the Governor must inform the prisoner of that date as soon as may be reasonably practicable.

(8) The information to be provided to any prisoner in terms of this rule must be provided in a manner which enables the prisoner to understand it.