Phone-time allocation fair for inmates
I refer to the report, 'Increase phone allowance in jail, say campaigners' (December 5).
The Correctional Services Officers' Association welcomes discussion on the well-being of prisoners.
As a matter of fact, non-local prisoners are not treated in a different way while serving their sentences in Hong Kong.
The relevant legislation guarantees a prisoner's right to communication with his/her relatives and friends through visits and letters.
There is no statutory provision governing the use of phones in a prison. However, we support the existing practice where requests to make a call are considered on a case-by-case basis and inmates are normally allowed a 10-minute call once every three months. It strikes a good balance between prisoners' interests, prison security, fairness and allocation of resources.
With limited manpower and resources, giving more time to one person means less time is allocated to others.
