PART 8

COMMUNICATIONS

PRISONERS’ CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

Restrictions on other correspondence to and from the prisoner
55
1
This rule applies to any letter or package, other than one to which rules 56, 57, 58 or 59 apply, which a prisoner wishes to send or which is addressed to the prisoner.
2
A letter or package to which this rule applies may only be opened by an officer or employee and, once opened, may only be read by an officer or employee—
a
in the circumstances specified in a direction by the Scottish Ministers made under paragraph (5); and
b
in accordance with any conditions specified in a direction by the Scottish Ministers made under paragraph (5).
3
Where a letter or package to which this rule applies is, or is found to contain anything, in contravention of the restrictions specified in a direction by the Scottish Ministers made under paragraph (5), an officer or employee may—
a
prevent the letter or package, or anything contained in it, from being sent or from being received by the prisoner; and
b
deal with the letter or package, or anything contained in it, in accordance with such arrangements as may be specified in a direction by the Scottish Ministers made under paragraph (5).
4
Where a letter or package to which this rule applies is found to contain a prohibited article or any unauthorised property, the Governor must deal with the item in terms of rule 104.
5
The Scottish Ministers may specify in a direction any of the following matters in relation to letters and packages to which this rule applies—
a
the circumstances in, and the conditions under, which such a letter or package may be opened;
b
the officers or employees who may be authorised to open such a letter or package;
c
the circumstances in, and the conditions under, which such a letter or package may be read;
d
the officers or employees who may be authorised to read such a letter or package;
e
any restrictions as to the number of such letters and packages which a prisoner may send;
f
any restrictions as to the amount of money (whether in the form of cash, cheques, bankers’ drafts or otherwise) which a prisoner may send or receive;
g
the times and frequency at which prisoners may send or receive money (whether in the form of cash, cheques, bankers’ drafts or otherwise);
h
the persons, authorities and organisations to whom a prisoner is prohibited from sending any such letters and packages;
i
any restrictions or conditions which will apply where a prisoner wishes to send such letters and packages to specified persons, authorities and organisations whom the prisoner is not otherwise prohibited from corresponding with;
j
any restrictions as to the nature and description of such letters and packages in general which a prisoner may not send or receive; and
k
the arrangements by which a letter or package referred to in paragraph (3) may be disposed of.