Measures concerning community sentence
The spread of the Corona virus and the vast potential for contracting it also affects persons who are serving a sentence in the community. The Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Service (KDI) has therefore decided to introduce necessary, temporary measures in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
New guidelines came into force on 18. May, replasing the measures which were implemented in March. These measures were again continued on 22 June.
Group activities
In March it was decided that all group activities in connection with community service should be cancelled. The same concerned working groups for all persons who are serving community sentence.
As of 18 May (continued 22 June).
Individual consultancies
It was in March decided that individual consultancies with convicted persons should still take place. KDI, however, recommended that communication should take place using telephone, or other technical means, such as Skype.
As of 18 May (continued 22 June).
Interruption of sentence
KDI tasked in March probation offices to consider whether the sentence should be interrupted for a period of time.
As of 18 May (continued 22 June).
Postponing the initiation of a sentence
KDI decided in March that community sentence, program against intoxicated driving and unpaid work for fine defaulters would not be initiated.
As of 18 May (continued 22 June).
Convicted persons who are transferred from prison to community sentence
It was in March decided that convicted persons, who have been transferred from prison to community service, shall continue to serve the sentence as previously.
The probation offices must make necessary changes to convicted persons` plan of execution of sentence, in order to reduce the risk of spreading the Corona virus.
In cases deemed necessary, interruption of sentence may be granted, as long as it is regarded as a secure measure in the given case.
This measure will be continued.
Release on parole with compulsory attendance
In force until 18 May:
It was in March decided that compulsory attendance of persons released from prison on parole is still in force. The probation service must ensure that contact with convicted persons can be maintained by telephone, or other technical means, and not by physical attendance at the probation office. If short time remains of the duty to appear in person after release from prison sentence, the case can be closed, as long as it is advisable from a security point of view.
As of 18 May (continued 22 June):
The measure continues to be implemented. With respect to physical reporting, the rules for individual consultancies described above apply here as well.
Follow-up of persons sentenced to preventive detention, who are released on license
In force until 18 May:
It was in March decided that persons sentenced to preventive detention and released on license will continue to be followed up. The probation offices will have to assess thoroughly how each sentenced person shall be followed up individually, and how the conditions will be monitored.
As of 18 May (continued 22 June):
This measure will be continued.
Introduction of new, temporary regulations for execution of sentence with electronic monitoring
In force until 18 May:
It was in March decided that execution of sentence with electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) at the sentenced person’s domicile is regarded as a suitable measure in connection with the current Corona situation. The operation of EM shall therefore continue, and new applications for EM shall be considered and implemented, and ongoing cases shall be followed up. Due to risk of spreading the virus, new temporary general provisions concerning the execution of sentence shall be implemented. The maximum term for serving a (part of a) prison sentence with electronic monitoring has been increased from 4 to 6 months.
As of 18 May (continued 22 June):
This measure will be continued.
Adjusted and revised temporary rules for execution of sentence by electronic monitoring were presented to the probation offices on 25 May.
From 01 July:
Temporary rules and measures which have been implemented due to the outbreak of Covid -19 will be discontinued as of 01 July 2020, with minor exceptions.
Reversed electronic monitoring in cases concerning domestic violence
In force until 18 May:
The probation offices were in March tasked to ensure that physical contact with convicted persons is reduced to a minimum. This implies that attaching and removing ankle bracelets should only be done in cases where this is considered strictly necessary, and only after having taken the necessary precautions against spreading the Corona virus.
As of 18 May (continued 22 June):
This measure will be continued.
Expiration of the period of execution of sentence
In March, in cases concerning community sentence, programme against intoxicated driving, drug court and serving of fines, where short time of the sentence remains, KDI ask probation offices to consider letting the execution of sentence expire with limited content, instead of consenting to interruption of the sentence.
This measure is discontinued as of 18 May.