Section 3: Access to detention facilities

Humanitarian associations shall have access, under the conditions set out in this sub-section, to places of detention.This access must not hinder the operation of the place of detention or the activities carried out there by the State services and legal entities mentioned in articles R. 744-20 and R. 744-21.

Any association duly registered for at least five years, whose purpose is the defence of foreign nationals, the defence of human rights, medical and social assistance or assistance to persons deprived of their liberty, may apply to be authorised to propose representatives with a view to gaining access to places of detention.The Minister responsible for immigration shall draw up a list of associations authorised to propose representatives with a view…

Each authorised association may submit to the Minister responsible for immigration a list of no more than five persons entitled to access all places of detention.Each authorised association may submit to the territorially competent prefect or, in Paris, to the police prefect, for each place of detention, a list of no more than five persons entitled to access it.The competent authority may, by reasoned decision, object to the access of…

When the representatives of an association intend to exercise their right of access to a detention centre, they shall inform the head of the centre at least twenty-four hours in advance.When the representatives of an association intend to exercise their right of access to a detention centre, they shall inform the head of the centre at least twelve hours in advance.The head of the centre shall inform the head of…