INFORMATION ON LEGAL CENTRE
If you are a lawyer with clients in our Institutions, you will find this page helpful in answering your queries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Prisons Booking System for lawyers
The PBS application for lawyers (date of implementation removed) is a resource booking service that facilitates lawyers in booking their interview time with inmates. The application is also aimed at reducing the administrative and processing work that stems from the high volume of telephone and written requests by lawyers for such interviews. The application will provide decentralised management of such interview bookings to the individual Institutions.
All bookings have to be made 1 working day in advance. (If the inmate to be interviewed is not your client, an advance notice of 3 working days would be required.)
Lawyers are to log on to the PBS application using their SingPass ID and Password. Once in, they are presented with a calendar-like interface. Dates and time slots which are available will be displayed. The lawyers can then choose the interview date, time slot and interview room, and fill in pertinent information on the inmates to be interviewed, and submit the form electronically.
Lawyers are to log on to the PBS application using their SingPass account. Once in, they are presented with a calendar-like interface. Dates and time slots which are available will be displayed. The lawyers can then choose the interview date and time slot (selection of interview room removed), and fill in pertinent information on the inmates to be interviewed, and submit the form electronically.
1. Who can access the Prisons Booking System?
Individuals with a valid SingPass ID and Password can access the PBS application. Lawyers who wish to make an appointment to interview an inmate can submit a booking via the online application.
Alternatively, their assistants or secretaries can book an interview session on their behalf, by choosing the function "I am booking on the behalf of a lawyer/staff of CLAS". However, they will have to furnish the particulars of the main interviewer who would be conducting the interview with the inmate. Both lawyers and their assistants or secretaries can view the status of request submitted via the on-line application.
2. How do I access the Prisons Booking System?
You must have either Internet Explorer 5.x or above or Netscape Communicator 5.0 or above and Internet Access in order to access the Prisons Booking System. No other prior installation and setup is required to access the system. Please follow the steps below:
- Please ensure that you have enabled the following settings in your Internet Explorer:
- Select Tools -> Internet Options from the Menu bar.
- Select Privacy Tab.
- Click on the Advanced button. Select the checkbox for "Overwrite automatic cookie handling".
- Click ok.
- Access the PBS website through Prisons Internet Homepage (www.prisons.gov.sg)
- Select Interactive Resources -> Legal Centre
- Click on Prisons Booking System
- Select 'SingPass' on the Main Authentication Page
- Key in your SingPass ID and password to log-on the application.
- You can now submit an interview request or view the status of interview requests previously submitted (attached note to be removed)
- To submit a request, enter the inmate's NRIC no/Fin no/Inmate no
- Select the interview date, timeslot and interview room
- Complete and submit the form electronically
3. When should I submit my request for interview?
Bookings should be made 1 working day prior to the requested date of interview to facilitate the processing of requests. If the inmate to be interviewed is not your client, an advance notice of 3 working days would be required.
4. How do I check that my application is approved?
Check the status of your requests via the online application by logging onto the Prisons Booking System and clicking on the "to view interview request" function.
Please note the following:
- Interview requests submitted before 1pm on a working day will normally be processed by 9am on the next working day.
- Interview requests submitted after 1pm on a working day will normally be processed by 3pm on the next working day
5. What do I need to bring on the day of the interview?
Please bring the approval letter. (You may print the approval letter using the "to view interview request" function). You would also need to bring your NRIC and your companion's NRIC (if any) for verification purposes.
6. How can I update my personal particulars?
If you are a new user, you would be prompted to provide your personal particulars upon logging into the Prisons Booking System.
If you have used the application previously, your particulars will be displayed upon your successful login. You can then update your particulars. Please ensure that your particulars are accurate and updated before proceeding with the transaction.
7. Can I use the Back, Forward and Refresh buttons on the browser when using the PBS application?
You are not allowed to use the Back, Forward and Refresh buttons provided on the browser when using PBS application. Please use the Next and Back buttons provided on the screen instead. If you use the browser buttons, you may encounter this error message: "An invalid eService state was encountered. Either the BACK, FORWARD or REFRESH button was clicked. Please click on the link below to continue processing based on the current eService page." Click on 'Continue' button on the screen to proceed.
8. I encountered an error page displaying a table indicating an error in selection and a message at the end informing me that "The program has been terminated." What should I do?
Logout and try logging in again.
Important Note:
Please note that the Prisons Booking System is not applicable for booking interviews with prisoners awaiting Capital Punishment. |
