Pre-Conviction |
Post-Conviction: Parole |
Post-Conviction: Decarceration |
| Number of Individuals Released due to COVID-19 Concerns: N/A | Number of Individuals Released due to COVID-19 Concerns: N/A | Number of Individuals Released due to COVID-19 Concerns: N/A |
| Source: N/A | Source: N/A | Source: N/A |
| Last Updated: N/A | Last Updated: N/A | Last Updated: N/A |
COVID-19 Infections in Correctional Institutions: Incarcerated Individuals |
COVID-19 Infections in Correctional Institutions: Administration and Staff |
| COVID-19 Positive: 3 | COVID-19 Positive: N/A |
| Hospitalizations: N/A | Hospitalizations: N/A |
| Fatalities: N/A | Fatalities: N/A |
| Source: Prison Observatory | Source: N/A |
| Last Updated: N/A | Last Updated: N/A |
Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Provinces: 16 Provinces ('voivodships')
Description of the Correctional System Administration: Ministry of Justice is responsible for the Prison Service of Poland, which in turn is governed by General Director Prison Service (currently gen. Jacek Kitlinski). General director is nominated by Prime Minister by application of Minister of Justice. General director oversees 15 Circuit Inspectors who are in charge of the penitentiary units in their jurisdiction. As of August 5, 2014, there were 156 penitentiary units across the country (European Prison Observatory). According to the Prison Service of Poland, as of July 10, 2020 there were 69,702 detained individuals (including pre-trial detainees).
As from March 12, the body temperature has been measured to anyone who enters prisons and pre-trial detention centres: if the temperature is found to exceed 38°C degrees, the person is not allowed in (Prison Observatory). Family visits have been suspended indefinitely. According to the Prison Service Official Statement, they plan to resume visits by August 1, 2020.
In March there was a discussion by the Ministry of Justice to let prisoners with the penalties not exceeding 18 months apply for a sentence in the electronic surveillance system ('systemie dozoru elektronicznego') (Statement of the Ministry of Justice). Prisoners would be released while being monitored by the electronic tags (NBC). According to the Ministry, around 9,000 prisoners are eligible to apply, and they will not implement this plan unless it will be necessary. There has been no update regarding this plan.
Family visits have been suspended indefinitely. According to the Prison Service Facebook Post, they plan to resume visits by August 1, 2020.
