Detention in Denmark

last update: January 2012

There is one detentation center in Denmark, it is called "Ellebæk" and it lies next to the main asylum camp, "Sandholmlejren".

A detention center works like a prison and is run by the probation service in Denmark.
As an asylum seeker you can be detained without having committed a crime, for example if you are a rejected asylum seeker and they believe you will go underground or leave for another country. There is a maximum limit on 18 months of keeping people in Ellebæk. In most cases the detention period is shorter. You can also be isolated from the other people in the prison.

Visitors
You can get visitors, while being detained, but the police can always oppose this or demand, that the visit will be under control. You have to send a letter of request to your visitors, as visitors cannot ask to visit you. The authorities in the prison have to permit the visit.

Priest - Ellebæk has a permanently associated christian priest. This is not par of the normal visitors rules.

Doctors - You have the right to be seen by a doctor, this will usually be one of the doctors, that is associated with Ellebæk. This is not part of the normal visitors rules.

Lawyers - You always have the right to get uncontrolled visit from an appointed lawyer.

Communication
You are not allowed to have a cell phone in the prison. There is a phone you can use, but you have to pay for this. There is an internetcafe, which is for free, but it is restricted which pages you are allowed to visit. You are allowed to send and receive letters, but the police have the right to read them.

Living costs/allowance
When you are in Ellebæk, you will not receive the allowance from the Red Cross. You have the right to work within the prison and can get some payment for this, but you do not have to work.

Extension of the detention
Maximum 72 hours after you have been detained a judge have to assess whether the detention is legal. This has to be reassessed minimum every fourth week. Practically this takes place through video, you will be in a room in Sandholm, with a interpreter and your defence attorney, while the judge, and the representant of the police is in the court in Hillerød. As far as we know extensions of detention are always permitted.

You will get an appointed defense attorney, who you can contact and ask questions before the extenstion case will take place.

Contact organizations or persons outside that can assist you in the legal process and whom you can inform if you think your rights are being violated.