Visitor accompanying persons placed under the hand of justice

Verified 26 December 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Who can become a visitor accompanying a person placed under the hand of justice ? Any person major of which the criminal record is virgin can become an accompanying visitor if she obtains a approval of the prison services. Ec volunteer contributes to the reinsertion of a person who performs a penalty in open medium. He accompanies her in particular in her administrative procedures and during activities organized outside the prison. We present you the information to know.

Warning  

We must not not confuse accompanying visitor and prison visitor.

The accompanying visitor is a volunteer the National Association of Visitors of Persons under Legal Assistance (ANVP). Its mission is toaccompany and support a person who performs his penalty (or the end of his sentence) by open medium.

The accompanying visitor contributes to the reinsertion of the convict isolated or of whichentourage is not sufficiently present. He always intervenes outside the prison.

In concrete terms, the accompanying visitor has the following missions:

  • To organize exchange times with the person placed under the hand of justice (for example, these exchanges can take place in a café)
  • Facilitate access to public services. It helps the person under judicial supervision to carry out administrative procedures, in particular, related to housing, health or access to rights. For example, it can help the convict fill out a application for housing assistance or a application for legal aid.
  • To support the person placed under the hand of justice to manage his budget
  • To set up tutoring sessions, based on his professional experience
  • To accompany the person under the hand of justice during cultural or associative outings (for example, the accompanying visitor can accompany the person to the cinema or in groups of words).

Please note

The mission of the accompanying visitor is in addition to the care provided by the Prison Insertion and Probation Services (SPIP).

To become an accompanying visitor, you must be major, have a criminal record virgin and obtain accreditation from the prison services.

How to apply for accreditation to become a prison visitor?

The application for approval can be made online or by post.

Please note

Before applying for approval, the applicant is advised to join theANVP: titleContent by paying a contribution.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Online

The request can be made directly on the website of theANVP: titleContent :

Application for approval to become an accompanying visitor

Please note

If the person wishes to join theANVP: titleContent or make a donation as soon as she applies, she can pay directly online (by indicating her bank details).

By post

The request must be addressed to the Director of the SPIP on which the person detained.

The applicant must provide the following information:

  • Surname, first name, date and place of birth
  • Nationality
  • Family status (e.g. single, married, etc.)
  • Profession
  • Personal address
  • Prison establishment(s) with which he wishes to intervene
  • Reasons why he wishes to become a prison visitor or accompanying visitor.

He must also attach the following documents:

  • Photocopy of the vital card
  • 2 ID photos.
Who shall I contact

How is the application of the accompanying visitor processed?

The examination of the application shall include an interview with the local SPIP officer (director of the local insertion and probation office).

This interview allows the candidate to understand the role of accompanying visitors, and the SPIP to assess the candidate's ability to perform the role of accompanying visitor.

It is also used to assess human relationships, psychological balance, availability of the candidate.

The director of the SPIP draws up a report and asks the prefect of the candidate's home department for his opinion.

The file is then forwarded to the interregional director of prison services (the superior of the director of SPIP), who makes the final decision. He can accept or refuse the application.

To communicate its response to the candidate, the ANVP contacts him in a delay of 3 weeks.

Please note

If the candidate has not received a response within this period, he can contact the ANVP directly.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Acceptance of the application

Upon receipt of his approval, the accompanying visitor can meet the person under judicial control, designated by the SPIP.

FYI  

In general, the accompanying visitor follows only one person. However, depending on the needs of the penitentiary and the availability of the accompanying visitor, it may be suggested to follow several of them.

Rejection of the application

If he refuses approval, the interregional director of prison services must justify his decision. The refusal may be based on the absence of need in the prison or on the unfavorable opinion of the prefect.

There is no recourse in the event of refusal of authorization. The candidate can only have access to his file.

However, if the interregional director has not replied to the candidate in a 2 months delay upon receipt of his complete file, the candidate may refer the matter to the administrative court.

Who shall I contact

Before starting their volunteer activity, the accompanying visitor signs a charter in which all its obligations. This charter is also signed by the SPIP on which the person placed under the hand of justice.

The accompanying visitor undertakes to:

  • Take several training courses organized by the SPIP and theANVP: titleContent. These trainings must take place as the accompaniment progresses.
  • Dedicate time to volunteer activity, without encroaching on professional and personal activities
  • Accompany the person in court without any benefit (for example, he cannot accept a sum of money or a gift from the convicted person)
  • Accompany the person placed under judicial supervision while respecting the SPIP's missions
  • Refer to prison counselor for integration and probation (CPIP) the sentenced person before taking any decision concerning him or her. The accompanying visitor must contact the convicted person's CPIP. It shall provide him with any information useful for the follow-up of the sentenced person and for the smooth running of the accompaniment.
  • Do not judge the situation of the person placed under the hand of justice (whether it is his private life or his criminal record)
  • Be impartial in its relationship with the different people accompanied. He can only propose solutions that fall within the scope of his voluntary activity (for example, he is forbidden to offer accommodation to the person placed under court order).

The accompanying visitor undertakes at least to 1 year. During this year, the time dedicated to the accompaniment is fixed according to the needs of the person placed under the hand of justice and the time that the accompanying visitor can reserve for his voluntary activity.

To fulfill its mission, the accompanying visitor can meet the person placed under the hand of justice several times. He also has the opportunity to communicate with her.

FYI  

The duration of the accompaniment is determined according to the needs of the person placed under judicial supervision. It ends at the same time as the SPIP.

How do meetings with the accompanying visitor take place?

The 1era The meeting between the accompanying visitor and the person under judicial supervision takes place at the SPIP premises. The prison counselor for integration and probation (CPIP) of the person placed under judicial supervision shall also participate in that interview.

During this meeting, the three parties set the objectives and conditions of the support. To do so, they take into account the needs of the person who is serving his sentence by open medium.

Other appointments cannot be arranged on SPIP premises. The location of the meetings is determined by the SPIP and theANVP: titleContent. Depending on the personality of the person under judicial supervision and whether or not there are judicial prohibitions, certain public places may be considered (for example, a library, museum or café).

Warning  

Appointments can never take place at the home of the accompanying visitor or the person under judicial supervision.

How are the fees due during an outing with an accompanying visitor paid?

Part of the costs of accompanying the prisoner may be covered by the prison administration. The remainder will be the responsibility of the person under judicial supervision.

The specific rules for the reimbursement of these costs are laid down in a document signed by the ANPV and the prison administration. For example, if the accompanying visitor pays for museum admission, he or she may request a refund from the prison administration.

How do the accompanying visitor and the person under judicial supervision exchange?

The accompanying visitor and the person under judicial supervision may call each other, communicate by text message or by e-mail.

The accompanying visitor must not give his private number to the person he accompanies.

As a security measure, the prison administration makes a mobile phone available to each accompanying visitor. In addition, the CPIP sets the limits of communication between the accompanying visitor and the person under judicial supervision.

What is the initial duration of the accompanying visitor's approval?

The approval of the accompanying visitor is valid for 2 years. It may be renewed at the written request of the accompanying visitor to the interregional director of prison services.

The visitor and the person he follows are free to terminate the accompaniment at any time. Thus, the accompanying visitor can accompany another person.

Can the approval of the accompanying visitor be withdrawn?

The approval may be removed in 2 ways:

  • By decision of the prison administration
  • By decision of the judicial authorities (application sentencing judge and public prosecutor). In this case, the accompanying visitor is informed that the withdrawal has been requested by the judicial authorities.

Warning  

In case of emergency and for serious reasons, the approval may also be suspended by the Director of the SPIP that follows the detained person. In this case, the interregional director of prison services is immediately informed of the situation that led to this request for suspension.

Except where the withdrawal is ordered by the judicial authorities, the visitor is informed of the reasons for which the prison administration wishes to suspend or withdraw its approval. For example, failure to comply with an obligation set out in the Charter of Engagement may lead to the suspension or withdrawal of authorization.

The visitor is also informed of the conditions for challenge that decision. Upon request, the visitor may submit written observations and defend himself orally before the prison administration. During this interview, he may be assisted by a lawyer.

Please note

During this interview, he may be assisted by a lawyer.

On the same subject

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region