Your Family Member
Was Arrested in the Czech Republic
We understand how frightening and disorienting this is — especially from abroad. This page explains what you can do right now, how Czech detention works, and how we can help.
What to Do Right Now
Contact a Czech defense lawyer immediately
Czech criminal proceedings move fast. The first 24–48 hours are critical for bail and custody decisions. You — or your family member — have the right to appoint a lawyer by phone even before meeting in person.
Call +420 731 621 972Notify your country's embassy or consulate
Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, your family member has the right to consular assistance. The embassy can visit them in detention, assist with translation, and provide a list of local lawyers.
Do not contact the police or prosecutor directly
Well-meaning family contact with investigators can complicate the case. Route all communication through the defense lawyer.
Gather documents and contacts
Prepare: full name, nationality, date of birth, passport number, date of arrest, location of detention (if known). This helps us act immediately.
Appointing a Lawyer — Power of Attorney
In Czech criminal proceedings, a defense lawyer (Czech: obhájce) can be appointed by the accused or by a close family member. You do not need to be physically present in the Czech Republic to retain a lawyer on behalf of your family member.
We can send you a power of attorney (Czech: plná moc) template by email. Once signed, scanned, and returned, we can begin representation immediately. A notarized original can follow by post.
Practical note: Czech law (§ 37 CCP) permits a close relative to appoint a lawyer for the accused without a formal power of attorney if the accused is unable to do so themselves (e.g., in custody). We handle this regularly and can guide you through the paperwork.
Visiting Your Family Member in Detention
Visits to a detainee in a Czech remand prison (Czech: vazební věznice) are regulated and must be pre-authorized. Here is what to know:
Who can visit?
Close relatives (spouse, parents, siblings, children). Others require permission from the investigator or prosecutor.
How often?
Typically once per month for 1–2 hours during investigation. Frequency can increase during trial.
How to arrange?
Submit a written request to the remand prison. The prison administration or your lawyer can provide the form.
Supervision?
Visits during pre-trial detention are usually supervised by a prison officer. Conversations may be recorded.
Note: Defense lawyers have unrestricted access to their clients in custody (§ 33 CCP). Lawyer-client meetings are confidential and unsupervised.
Sending Money to a Detained Person
Detainees in Czech remand prisons can receive money from family to buy necessities from the prison canteen (food, hygiene items, stamps). The process:
- 1Contact the remand prison by phone or email to get the specific bank account number for deposits.
- 2Use the detainee's full name and prison registration number as the payment reference.
- 3Funds are typically credited to the prisoner's account within a few business days.
- 4Amounts are subject to prison rules — typically a monthly cap of a few hundred euros equivalent.
We can provide the contact details of the relevant remand prison once we know the location of your family member.
Embassy & Consular Assistance
Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Art. 36), foreign nationals detained in the Czech Republic have the right to:
- Be informed of their right to consular notification without delay
- Have their consulate notified of their detention (if they request it)
- Communicate with and be visited by consular officials
- Receive assistance finding a lawyer and arranging legal representation
Practical tip: Contact your country's embassy in Prague directly — most embassies have an emergency duty line for detained nationals. We regularly coordinate with embassy officials and can facilitate the process on your behalf.
How We Help Families
We work directly with families abroad throughout the entire proceedings.