Volunteer group marks 20 years of visits to support prisoners in Luxembourg

Twenty years since it was founded, the mission of the Association Luxembourgeoise des Visiteurs de Prison (ALVP) remains unchanged, says prison chaplain Vincent Klein: “To provide human contact, a listening ear and a relationship based on trust, confidentiality and non-judgement.”

In October 2006, together with another chaplain, Father François Kremer, he founded the ALVP to establish a network of volunteers who could offer prisoners regular visits, ideally talking in their native language.

“Over the years we have become more structured in terms of volunteer training and support, with closer relationships with prison authorities and organisations involved in rehabilitation,” said Father Klein, adding: “But the essence of our work remains very simple – being there for someone who needs human contact.”

Only link to outside world

Steve moved to Luxembourg from the UK in 2000 and heard about the initiative to visit prisoners from a friend.

He has been visiting prisoners for over 15 years, and has also spent time with pre-trial detainees who tend to be incarcerated for shorter periods of time.

“We try to establish a relationship with the prisoner so we can have meaningful conversations. Fortnightly visits are frequent enough to keep the relationship going without being too demanding,” said Steve, who visits for an hour, talking in a private room with each prisoner.

“A lot of prisoners don’t have any other visitors, are far from home or their family has excluded them because of what they have done.”

Conversation can be about common interests such as sports or current affairs, but Steve said that prisoners often drive the conversation talking about concerns of what is happening on their block, an upcoming trial or their future release.

“They have so much time to think, this is an opportunity to unload. If there is a gap in the conversation we can ask about their favourite music or the television programmes they watch,” said Steve, who also plays chess or drafts with one prisoner.

“When you understand their background, you understand there were a lot of factors behind ending up in prison. Some are really tragic, but being able to talk can help a lot. They realise they don’t have to be defensive all the time, they can say what they feel, as we are bound by confidentiality.”

“The line between incarceration and freedom is so delicate, and once you are in prison, you are deprived of access to people. Speaking to a visitor gives you a link to the outside world,” Steve said.

Steve is clear that there is no judgement from visitors, and the ALVP code of conduct means visitors don’t get involved with paperwork or helping financially.

“We do not provide legal advice or material assistance, but conversations can cover virtually anything from family, everyday life, sport, culture, personal concerns or plans for the future,” Klein said.

“The important thing is to create a space where someone can speak freely without feeling judged,” he said. “When practical or social difficulties arise, our volunteers can help prisoners become aware of relevant support services, but we do not replace the professionals responsible for these matters.”

No judgement

Prisoners are not asked why they are incarcerated, and volunteer visitors are not there to investigate their past or judge their actions.

Who volunteers?

The ALVP currently has 30 active accredited volunteer visitors (14 women and 16 men), with a few more people undergoing training.

Together they visit some 47 people in the Luxembourg criminal justice system, 42 inside prisons and five outside, and the majority of prisoners visited are male.

The volunteers come from a range of professional and personal backgrounds, including lawyers and psychologists, but also manual workers, cleaners and homemakers.

International prison population

Together the group speaks 10 languages, but the ALVP is looking for more volunteers who can speak Romanian, Serbo-Croat or Arabic.

“Our aim is for prisoners to express themselves in their mother tongue where possible,” Klein said.

The prison population is very international, and this diversity has been a central consideration for the ALVP since its creation, he said.

“At the start, the founders actively recruited volunteers speaking different languages, notably Portuguese, to reach prisoners who could not easily communicate in Luxembourgish, French or German,” he explained.

Many prisoners are foreign nationals, without family, friends or established connections in Luxembourg. Some may eventually be deported after serving their sentence, making isolation particularly acute, Klein said.

There is no single language requirement, but being able to communicate comfortably with a prisoner is essential, so the ALVP tries to match volunteers who can speak with a prisoner in his or her native language.

Visits are to both the Schrassig and Uerschterhaff prisons, extending beyond conventional prisons to include visiting people who have been released or are held in other institutions such as the semi-open prison in Givenich.

Visits are of course subject to security procedures and institutional rules, said Klein, highlighting that the ALVP works closely with relevant authorities and helps volunteers obtain their individual visiting permits.

What do prisoners say?

For prisoners who have no regular contact with family or friends, a volunteer visitor may be their only consistent connection with someone from outside the prison.

Visits provide an opportunity to talk openly about worries, concerns about their trial, their family, relationships with other prisoners, or what will happen after their release.

One prisoner has contributed to an event held to mark the ALVP’s 20^th anniversary on 21 October 2026.

“He explained how much he looks forward to his visitor’s arrival, describing feeling more confident, less isolated and more motivated to pursue his goals after release. He also said that he returns to his cell smiling and feeling calmer after their meetings,” Klein said.

Another prisoner described her visitor as a true friend, who has accompanied her through four difficult years, whilst one visitor recalls a prisoner telling him after many years of visits, that he did not know whether he would have managed without that relationship.

“The value of a visit is not necessarily measured by what we accomplish, but the relationship we build. Regular visits can reduce loneliness, offer emotional stability, restore confidence and help prisoners maintain a connection with the outside world,” Klein said.

Want to become a volunteer?

Training and ongoing support are essential parts of the ALVP’s approach.

“People from all walks of life can become volunteer visitors, but we are looking primarily for people who are open-minded, reliable, able to listen without judging, and willing to commit to regular visits and to be involved for at least five years,” Klein said.

Prospective volunteers first attend the monthly association meetings to become familiar with the prison environment, and the ALVP’s values and activities. After a year and an interview with the board, they can begin visiting prisoners as trainees.

After a year of visits, they will review their experience with the board before being granted full accreditation.

Training is provided in active listening, supported by a psychologist who has worked with the association since the early years. Monthly meetings allow volunteers to learn from professionals in the criminal justice system and discuss their experiences, and additional psychological support is available when needed.

Volunteers generally visit once or twice a month, spending between 30 minutes to an hour with one prisoner, but can see up to three prisoners if they have time.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact the ALVP via their website, or by email at alvp@pt.lu.