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Information Pack for British Prisoners in Ecuador Author Quito Consular Team Department Consular Section British Embassy Quito Date 5 May 2014 Not protectively marked Information Pack for British Prisoners in Ecuador Not protectively marked Contents Who can help? ........................................................................................................................ 4 About the Ecuador Consular Network ..................................................................................... 4 Who are the Consular Representatives? ................................................................................ 4 Contact Information: ................................................................................................................ 5 British Embassy Quito ............................................................................................................. 5 FIRST STEPS ......................................................................................................................... 6 Who will know that I have been detained? .............................................................................. 6 What will my family be told? .................................................................................................... 6 What will the Consulate do? ................................................................................................... 6 PRISON CONDITIONS / SERVICES ..................................................................................... 7 General prison conditions ....................................................................................................... 7 What about money? ................................................................................................................ 8 Drugs ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Can I work in prison? .............................................................................................................. 8 Can I receive medical and dental treatment? ......................................................................... 9 Food and Diet ......................................................................................................................... 9 Mail/Parcels .......................................................................................................................... 10 Can I have a radio, CD player, cassette player and television? ........................................... 10 Can I make telephone calls? ................................................................................................. 11 What is there to read? ........................................................................................................... 11 Leisure and entertainment .................................................................................................... 11 Visits ..................................................................................................................................... 11 What can the Embassy buy for you and what is allowed in prison? ..................................... 12 THE ECUADORIAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM ............................................................................ 13 Is the system the same as in the UK? .................................................................................. 13 What happens when I am arrested? ..................................................................................... 13 For how long can I be remanded in custody? ....................................................................... 15 What happens when I am charged? ..................................................................................... 16 What provision is there for bail? ............................................................................................ 16 What kind of legal assistance is available? ........................................................................... 16 What happens at the trial? .................................................................................................... 17 Sentences ............................................................................................................................. 17 How can appeals be made? ................................................................................................. 17 What provision is there for reduction of sentence (remission) e.g. for good behaviour? ...... 18 What provision is there for early release e.g. on parole? ...................................................... 18 What provision is there for clemency or pardon? .................................................................. 19 What about any financial penalties? ..................................................................................... 19 Is transfer to the UK a possibility? ........................................................................................ 20 What are the procedures for release and deportation? ........................................................ 20 Criminal Process Phases (Diagram) ..................................................................................... 22 Not protectively marked 2 Information Pack for British Prisoners in Ecuador Not protectively marked The Benefits System in Ecuador – Factsheet for Prisoners ................................................. 23 TRANSFERS TO THE UK .................................................................................................... 24 STRASBOURG PRISONERS TRANSFER AGREEMENT - PTA ........................................ 24 Local Requirements under the Strasbourg Prisoners Transfer Agreement: ......................... 24 Repatriation of Prisoners to England and Wales .................................................................. 26 PRISONERS ABROAD ........................................................................................................ 27 ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................. 28 Annex 1: LIST OF ENGLISH SPEAKING LAWYERS IN ECUADOR................................. 28 Quito .................................................................................................................................... 28 Guayaquil .............................................................................................................................. 28 Annex 2: LIST OF TRANSLATORS/INTERPRETERS IN ECUADOR ................................. 28 Quito .................................................................................................................................... 28 Guayaquil ............................................................................................................................. 28 Annex 3: FCO LEAFLETS Annex 4: PRISONERS ABROAD LEAFLET AND FORMS Annex 5: FAIR TRIALS INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE AND LEAFLETS GLOSSARY OF TERMS ...................................................................................................... 29 Spanish Alphabet .................................................................................................................. 33 Prisoners Abroad – Key Phrases (English into Spanish) ...................................................... 40 Not protectively marked 3 Information Pack for British Prisoners in Ecuador Not protectively marked INTRODUCTION This guide aims to explain the Ecuadorian legal and prison system to British Nationals who are imprisoned in Ecuador. You can also read about how to apply for a transfer back to a UK prison. Who can help? The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO): The FCO is represented overseas by its Embassies and Consulates (High Commissions in Commonwealth countries). Both employ consular officers, and one of their jobs is to provide help and advice to any Briton who gets into difficulty in a foreign country. About the Ecuador Consular Network We are impartial; we are not here to judge you. We aim to make sure that you are treated properly and fairly in accordance with Ecuadorian regulations, and that you are treated no less favourably than other prisoners. We can answer questions about your welfare and about prison regulations but you must ask your lawyer or the court about legal matters. The attached list of lawyers is provided by the British Embassy for your convenience, but neither Her Majesty‟s Government, nor any official of the Consulate, take any responsibility for the competence or probity of any firm/advocate on the list or for the consequences of any legal action initiated or advice given. We cannot get you out of prison, pay fines or stand bail or interfere in local judicial procedures to get you out of prison nor secure you an earlier trial date; we cannot investigate a crime. We have tried to make sure that the information in this booklet is accurate and up to date, but the British Embassy cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information. If in doubt, contact a lawyer. Who are the Consular Representatives? British Embassy Quito [email protected] Veronica Ruiz [email protected] Vice Consul British Embassy Quito [email protected] Anneka Dann [email protected] Pro Consul Guayaquil British Honorary Consulate [email protected] Colin Armstrong Honorary Consul Guayaquil Rocio Torres [email protected] Honorary Vice Consul Guayaquil Cuenca British