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Information Pack for British Prisoners
in Argentina
Author
Date
British Embassy Buenos Aires
12 February 2016
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INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................................. 3
W HO CAN HELP? ............................................................................................................................................................... 3
ABOUT THE EMBASSY ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
W HO ARE THE CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES ................................................................................................................ 4
CONTACT INFORMATION ................................................................................................................................................... 5
FIRST STEPS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6
W HO WILL KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN DETAINED? ............................................................................................................. 6
W HAT MY FAMILY WILL BE TOLD? ..................................................................................................................................... 6
W HAT WILL THE CONSULATE DO? .................................................................................................................................... 6
W OULD I HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD IN THE UK?............................................................................................................. 6
VISITS .................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
HOW DO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARRANGE A VISIT? ..................................................................................................... 6
HOW MANY VISITS AM I ALLOWED? ................................................................................................................................... 7
CONSULAR VISITS ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
W HAT CAN VISITORS BRING? ............................................................................................................................................ 7
PRISON CONDITIONS/SERVICES ................................................................................................................................. 7
ARRIVAL AT THE PRISON ................................................................................................................................................... 7
GENERAL PRISON CONDITIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 8
HOW CAN I RECEIVE MONEY? ........................................................................................................................................... 9
CAN I WORK OR STUDY IN PRISON? .................................................................................................................................. 9
CAN I RECEIVE MEDICAL AND DENTAL TREATMENT? ...................................................................................................... 10
FOOD AND DIET .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
MAIL/PARCELS ................................................................................................................................................................ 11
CAN I MAKE PHONE CALLS? ............................................................................................................................................ 11
LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT ....................................................................................................................................... 11
DRUGS ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12
HOW CAN I MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT MISTREATMENT? .............................................................................................. 12
THE ARGENTINE JUDICIAL SYSTEM ........................................................................................................................ 12
IS THE SYSTEM THE SAME AS THE UK? .......................................................................................................................... 12
W HAT SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN I AM ARRESTED?............................................................................................................ 13
W HAT HAPPENS WHEN I AM CHARGED? ......................................................................................................................... 14
FOR HOW LONG CAN I BE REMANDED IN CUSTODY? ...................................................................................................... 14
W HAT PROVISION IS THERE FOR BAIL?........................................................................................................................... 14
W HAT KIND OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE IS THERE?............................................................................................................... 14
W HAT HAPPENS AT THE TRIAL? ...................................................................................................................................... 14
SENTENCES .................................................................................................................................................................... 14
HOW CAN APPEALS BE MADE?........................................................................................................................................ 15
W HAT PROVISION IS THERE FOR REDUCTION OF SENTENCE (REMISSION) E.G. FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR? .................... 15
W HAT PROVISION IS THERE FOR EARLY RELEASE E.G. ON PAROLE? ............................................................................ 15
W HAT PROVISION IS THERE FOR CLEMENCY OR PARDON? ............................................................................................ 16
W HAT ABOUT ANY FINANCIAL PENALTIES? ..................................................................................................................... 16
IS TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PRISON WITHIN ARGENTINA POSSIBLE? ............................................................................. 16
IS TRANSFER TO THE UK A POSSIBILITY?....................................................................................................................... 16
W HAT ARE THE PROCEDURES FOR RELEASE AND DEPORTATION?................................................................................ 17
PRISONERS ABROAD ................................................................................................................................................... 17
TRANSLATION OF USEFUL TERMS .......................................................................................................................... 18
ANNEXES .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27
DISCLAIMER .................................................................................................................................................................... 29
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INTRODUCTION
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 duties is to provide help
and advice to any British National who gets into difficulty in a foreign country.
About the Embassy
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 local 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 consequence of any legal action initiated or advice given.
We cannot get you out of prison, pay fines or stand bail or interfere with 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.
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Who are the Consular representatives
BUENOS AIRES
Lucy Santamarina – Vice Consul
Carolina Carminatti – Pro Consul
Beatriz Medina – Pro Consul
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Contact Information
BRITISH EMBASSY, Consular Section
Dr Luis Agote 2412 (1425), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Open to the public: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 1:00pm
Office hours: Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4:30pm; Friday 8:30 to 2:00pm
Consular Enquiries: +54 11 4808-2200 option 2
Fax: +54 11 4808 2235
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gov.uk/world/argentina
Lucy Santamarina – Vice Consul
Carolina Carminatti – Pro Consul
Beatriz Medina – Pro Consul
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FIRST STEPS
Who will know that I have been detained?
When a British citizen is arrested and detained in Argentina, the Argentine authorities must inform
the respective Consulate / Embassy as it is the detainee‟s right to have this notification done by the
authorities. The Embassy might be informed immediately after the detention; however, we are
usually informed of your arrest once you have arrived at Court where the judge will take your
declaration. We aim to make contact within 24 hours.
What my family will be told?
For reasons of confidentiality under the Data Protection Act we are not permitted to tell anyone,
even your family, that you have been detained or what the charges are without your permission.
Whilst it is up to you what information we will pass to your family, it is sometimes best if we are able
to give at least some information to them to ease their worrying; they can also help to send you
money or pay for a lawyer.
What will the Consulate do?
We aim to contact you 24 hours after we learn of your arrest and visit you within 48 hours; after this
we aim to visit you every 4 months until you are sentenced. After your trial we will visit you every 6
months. In case of an emergency or if you have a sensitive issue that you would rather not discuss
by telephone or in writing, we will consider making an additional visit.
If appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities if you are not treated in line with
internationally accepted standards.
We can also help your family to send funds to you via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. See
Annex 1 for instructions on how to do so.
Will I have a criminal record in the UK?
You should be aware that if you have been convicted for certain serious offences, such as sexual
assault or drugs trafficking, we are obliged to inform the UK police. It is therefore possible that
information about this offence may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a
prospective employer.
VISITS
How do my family and friends arrange a visit?
We advise family members to contact us well in advance so that we can inform the prison
administration and work on the visiting programme.
In order to receive visitors you should provide the prison with the names of the people visiting you
for them to be added to the Prison Visiting list. We will provide information on visiting procedures
and details of what visitors can bring should your family members decide to come to Argentina.
You can only receive visits from family members; friends are not allowed.
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How many visits am I allowed?
Internal regulations will establish the frequency and duration of ordinary visits, based on the inmate‟s
behaviour and according to the prison‟s security level and the spaces available for this purpose.
If you have been penalised with a prohibition order that keeps you from receiving visitors or with
permanent or non-permanent loss of individual quarters, you are entitled to a single two-hour visit
from a next of kin who you will nominate upon being notified of your penalty.
Assistance visits may also be requested through health professionals and members or
representatives of your religion, also diplomatic visitors and international institutions. For security
reasons those persons will be checked as well as their belongings.
Those prisoners whose relatives or next of kin live in distant places, for example more than 100 km
away from the prison, or if the prison is more than 300 km away from the place of residence of a
husband, children, parents, brothers/sisters or partner with visiting rights, the Special Visit regime
will apply. If granted, you may be visited up to 5 consecutive days per month, for up to 3 hours each
day. Consular staff can help your family to arrange this although these extra days are given by the
prison administration, the decision is discretionary.
Consular visits
We aim to visit you every four months before you are sentenced, and every six months after trial.
During our routine visits you will have the opportunity to discuss any health issues, security
concerns, your treatment in prison and any other general issues that you wish to raise with our
Consular staff. At each Consular visit, our staff will complete a "Visit Report Form". If there is any
information that you would prefer not to disclose to a Next of Kin you should let us know during the
visit.
What can visitors bring?
Argentina has a large number of prison facilities and regulations about permitted items vary from
one prison to another and the rules are frequently changed. Therefore, families should contact the
FCO in advance of their visit so we can provide them with an updated list.
PRISON CONDITIONS/SERVICES
(FOR INFORMATION ON FIRST STEPS AFTER DETENTION PLEASE SEE PAGE 13)
Arrival at the prison
After the judge passes the imprisonment or preventive custody sentence, you will be taken to a
prison service facility. On arrival, the Prisoner Reception Centre will check your personal data and
the judge‟s detention order. A new fingerprint card will be produced to certify your identity. You are
likely to have your photo taken as well. All these documents will become your personal file.
 Personal Belongings
When you first arrive, the authorities will take your money, and personal belongings that you are not
allowed keeping for security reasons, for which you will be given a receipt. Keep the receipt in order
for you to collect all your belongings once you leave prison. For this reason you will be frisked on
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arrival to prevent any unauthorised substances or items from entering the facility. The storage of any
belongings that are not part of the investigation, process, or evidence will need to be arranged
privately.
The British Embassy cannot store your personal belongings on your behalf. The only property we
can keep for you are your passport and driver‟s licence. However, these are usually retained at the
courts until the end of your sentence. Please note that your passport might be kept by the courts as
evidence of the alleged crime or as a condition for your bail/parole. This measure is taken by the
courts to prevent you from skipping bail.
 Medical check-up
A doctor will examine you to assess you general health and prescribe treatment, if needed. This will
be the first entry on your medical record, where all medical appointments will be recorded. All of this
will be reported to the judge in charge of your case.
Medical checks will be carried out by the prison health department in order to assess if you need
any treatment for ongoing medical conditions (e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, HIV).
 Contacting your family and/or your Consulate
On arrival, you have the right to make a telephone call to a relative or next of kin to communicate
your detention. You will be handed a brochure with the address of the facility, which you may give to
your family. You may use the public telephones available at the compound within the established
hours. Public telephones operate with cards, but you may also make a collect call (dial *19) which
will be paid by the person receiving the call.
Another option is to send a letter by post, prepaying the stamp fee. The letter will be posted by the
relevant prison office. It is important that on the back of the envelope you write your name and the
address of the compound, to ensure that the letter is sent back to you if the recipient is not found.
If, for any reason, you cannot contact your family, you may ask the Social Security Section or
Division of your compound for help. We can always contact your family or friends on your behalf with
your express consent.
General prison conditions
Overcrowding is a problem in most Argentine prisons so you cannot expect a single cell as a matter
of course. For this reason, a request to be moved from one prison to another cannot always be
granted. (You should raise this issue with your lawyer).
Very few prisons in Argentina offer a special Module for foreigners, which are sometimes divided
into different pavilions.
Personal hygiene is an imperative. Most Argentine prisons will provide basic toiletries and linen.
Other items can be purchased directly from the prison shop (canteen). Supply varies from one
prison to another. If you need something in particular, ask whether your family can provide it.
You are also responsible for keeping your living quarters clean.
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You are allowed to wear your own clothes with the exception of some colours like light blue, grey or
black and you cannot wear hard shoes or boots (in the case of ladies, sleeve-less shirts or miniskirts).
Prison management will be responsible for providing food. Special meals will be based on the
individual‟s health and dietary requirements. You may also buy food, or have it delivered to you by
relatives or visitors.
How can I receive money?
There are two ways in which you can receive financial assistance while in prison.

Private Funds: Deposited for you by your family or friends. See Annex 1 for instructions
on how to send funds via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Prisoners Abroad: If your family can‟t support you financially Prisoners Abroad may be
able to send you a small grant every quarter for essentials.
Money received from the UK will be converted into local currency and held on your behalf by our
Embassy. Our Consular staff will either make a deposit at the prison‟s front desk (depending on our
availability and distance from the prison) or will transfer your funds to you as a Postal Mandate via
Correo Argentino.
If you are to work in the prison (this will depend on the prison - normally a Colonia Penal in the
interior of the country offers more possibilities than a prison in the city of Buenos Aires) and are to
receive a „Peculio‟ (small payment) as compensation, you will need to have a CUIL number (tax
number). A proof of identity will be required by the authorities to issue you with one. Ask your lawyer,
he may have access to your passport which should be at the Juzgado. However, if you entered on a
false passport, please write to us and we will issue a Certificate of Identity so that the authorities can
grant you a CUIL number.
Money sent to you will be deposited in your prison account.
Please note that our Consular staff cannot be responsible for the loss of funds by the Prison
Authorities.
Please note that the Embassy does not provide financial support to British Nationals in prison
abroad.
Can I work or study in prison?
You will be encouraged to acquire and improve your working habits and qualifications for your future
life outside prison through activities suited to your intellectual and physical abilities. Depending on
your behaviour you will be allowed to work and earn some money.
Paid work is one of the rights and duties of a convicted inmate and a right while the inmate is
awaiting a final sentence. But it doesn‟t mean that because you work you do not have to co-operate
in general maintenance activities. You may use up to 30% of your monthly salary (available money)
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to buy authorised personal items, provided you have shown good behaviour. The full amount earned
for your work, after statutory deductions, will constitute a reserve fund that will be given to you upon
release. The salary you earn as a detainee shall not be less than 75% of the statutory minimum
wage. If you have not been sentenced yet, you may use up to 80% of your salary and the remaining
20% will be kept as a reserve fund which will be given to you on release without a final conviction.
The working system varies from one prison to another depending on their possibilities/financial
situation. According to available information, there are more work possibilities at the Colonias
Penales in the interior of the country than in the prisons located in Buenos Aires and surrounding
areas.
There is education available for illiterate detainee or for those who have not reached the minimum
level of education established by law. You will also be encouraged to access other levels of
education offered by the prison‟s Education Division. You will be awarded the relevant certificates
and diplomas issued by official authorities, without any mention of the place where they were
obtained. These certificates will enable you to continue your studies when you are released.
You may also participate in recreational programmes, including sports, mainly team sports, and
cultural activities. If you do not have the intellectual skills or physical conditions required, you may be
exempted from participation in these activities.
In the library, you will find the necessary material for training and recreation.
Can I receive medical and dental treatment?
Any prescribed diagnostic studies, medical treatment and medication will be supplied to you at no
cost. You may also seek private health care, at your own cost.
If you need medical or dental treatment you should make an appointment to see the prison doctor or
dentist. In some large prisons it can be difficult to get an early appointment but if the situation is
urgent you should contact the prison social worker, who may be able to get you an appointment
more quickly than through the normal channels.
Prison doctors are often the equivalent of GPs in the UK, so unusual or complex problems may be
referred to a specialist outside the prison.
All medical attention to detainees is provided by the Argentine equivalent of the UK National Health
Service (NHS). As the system is relatively overwhelmed people can wait up to 2 months for a
doctor‟s appointment.
The transfer to a medical appointment outside prison will be handled by the prison authorities. There
have been cases in the past were transfers were not available and appointments with doctors where
missed.
Food and Diet
The prison authorities have assured us that the food they provide is a balanced diet supplying the
necessary nutritional requirements. You can supplement your diet by buying fruit and other items
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from the prison canteen when available, or from your family in compliance with the prison
administration.
Mail/Parcels
There is usually no limit to the number of letters you may send (if you have paid the postage fee) or
receive. Please be aware that the prison might read your letters before sending to the recipient. If
you are told you are not allowed to receive letters in English, you should notify a Consular Officer
and we will communicate with the Director of the prison.
If the Embassy receives letters addressed to you, we will open them to check for prohibited items,
and we will deliver them to you in our next consular visit. Consular officers will not read the contents.
In some prisons it is easier to receive mail than to send it. You can hand your mail to a Consular
Officer during a consular visit as long as the contents are checked with you first, and the proper
postal fee is already paid.
Our consular staff will reply to your written correspondence within our target of 20 working days
(excluding postage time), but only if your correspondence is of what we consider to be a “serious
nature”, e.g. if you have a serious health issue for which you need our help or if you have serious
concerns for your safety. Please raise any issues with us during consular visits.
If you would like your family in the UK or elsewhere to email you, then please let them know that
they may do so via our central email box: [email protected]. Please ask them to entitle
their email with your full name together with the prison where you are detained. Messages from
prisoners to their family and friends can only be sent if they can provide the Embassy/Consulate with
an email address. The messages will be forwarded to the families in 20 working days. Please be
aware that the Embassy/Consulate will not forward letters from prisoners by post.
You can receive parcels from your family. Please be aware that parcels should be sent directly to
the prison; parcels sent to the Embassy/Consulate will not be forwarded to you. Parcels must have
the name and details of the sender and the sender must be registered on the visitors list (Hall de
Visita); otherwise the parcel will be refused.
Can I make phone calls?
According to Argentine law, prisoners can have access to public phones and you can make phone
calls with your own telephone cards.
Leisure and entertainment
Prisons often have a library with books available for inmates; you can also be part of recreational
and cultural activities. Also, you will have access to radio broadcasts and TV shows, in compliance
with the activities‟ schedule. Depending on the prison, you can have your own small TV set cassette
player/radio. You can also have your own books to read.
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Drugs
It is widely known that drug trafficking between inmates in prisons is widespread. If you are caught
with any kind of illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc) you will be punished accordingly. As a result
you may lose your job or school place and might be sent to confinement for a period.
Tobacco cigarettes are allowed inside Argentine prisons.
How can I make a complaint about mistreatment?
If you wish to file a complaint please contact the Embassy/Consulate or let us know during the
consular visit so that we take your concerns forward.
You should also alert your lawyer if you would like to take legal action. The PROCUVIN is the
government department that will take your formal complaint and will get involved in your case.
THE ARGENTINE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
The Embassy/Consulate cannot interfere with the Argentine Judicial system. We cannot ask for your
case to be judged quickly, ask the authorities to waive any penalties, give or pay for legal advice,
start legal proceedings on your behalf, investigate a crime or prevent the local authorities from
deporting you at the end of your sentence, even if you were previously resident in the country.
Neither can we collect your belongings and/or monies, which might have been confiscated at the
time of detention.
Is the system the same as the UK?
You will be prosecuted by the prosecutor‟s office and if you can‟t afford a private attorney, the
Argentine government will appoint a public defender for you. You will have a different public
defender for each stage of the process.
There will be three stages to your case:
1. Preliminary Search
Your case is handled by a Judge (“Juzgado Penal Económico Federal” or “Juzgado Criminal y
Correccional” depending on the case). You are entitled to the assistance of a legal advisor from the
time of arrest. A public attorney (at no cost to yourself) is appointed by the Argentine State unless
you wish to appoint your own private lawyer. We recommend you appoint a penal specialist if you
choose a private lawyer.
This first stage is handled by the first Public Defender (“Defensor de Instrucción”).
NOTE: Private lawyers are very expensive and cannot guarantee your release, but you are free to
investigate this option. In the case of a private lawyer, you will have to cover all legal costs.. The
Embassy cannot help you in this regard. If you wish to transfer funds from the United Kingdom to
Argentina in order to cover legal costs, this transaction is to be processed through your commercial
bank in the UK to the legal representatives. The Embassy cannot help you in this regard.
You can be taken to court to be questioned several times during the 6-8 months (could be less)
before the trial commences.
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2. Oral Period Trial
Your case is handled by an Oral Tribunal (“Tribunal Oral”). Once all the preliminary procedures are
completed at the Judge‟s office (“Juzgado Penal Económico”), or any other, the case is forwarded to
an Oral Tribunal. When the case „physically‟ leaves the Judge‟s office, a Tribunal is allocated by
means of a draw. Your case will pass to that specific Oral Tribunal and therefore it will attend to your
case. A date of trial will be set and a formal notification of the date of trial will be sent to you.
In a shortened law suit (“juicio abreviado”), the average sentence for drug trafficking is usually 4 to 5
years. This means that you understand and accept willingly and under no pressure all the charges
against you, declaring yourself guilty. If this is the case, you would not have an oral trial.
If you wish to stand for the long oral hearing (“juicio oral”) declaring yourself innocent, the sentence
can be longer if you are found guilty. The sentence you receive starts from the moment you are
detained for the first time.
After serving two thirds of your sentence, and depending on your good behaviour, you can be on
parole (“libertad condicional”) until completing the total sentence in Argentina.
If you are being assisted by a Public Defender you will probably get a new one at this stage.
3. Execution of sentence
Once you have been sentenced, your case will pass to a third judge. Your case will now be
handled by the Executive Court (“Juzgado de Ejecución”). If you are being assisted by a Public
Defender you will probably get a new one at this stage. This stage covers the serving of your
sentence and a possible eventual deportation/release.
What should happen when I am arrested?
When arrested you should be read all your rights and be informed that you may choose to remain
silent (apart from giving your name and address) until you have spoken to your legal representative,
after which the Judge will take your declaration (you will probably be taken to Court for this). You
have the right to be assisted by an official translator for free. You can expect to spend at least 2
days at the Police Station once arrested, before being transferred to a prison.
The Embassy should be informed immediately after the detention; however, we are usually informed
of your arrest once you have arrived at Court where the judge will take your declaration.
The detainee has the right to ask for their diplomatic representative. The Embassy cannot become
involved in the legal aspect of your incarceration and cannot assume the role of a legal advisor. This
task is reserved for your attorney. Should you not wish legal representation then the choice and
consequences are solely yours.
We aim to contact you within the first 24 hours of being notified of your detention, and to visit you
within the next 48 hours.
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What happens when I am charged?
The courts will inform you, your lawyer/public defender and the prison authorities of your charges. If
you do not have a private lawyer you will be assisted by a public defender who will put forward
requests for benefits such as bail, etc.
How long can I be remanded in custody?
Depending on the crime committed and on the circumstances of detention, you might be
incarcerated as soon as the judge takes your declaration the first time. You should ask your lawyer
about the possibility of requesting your release while the legal process is in progress, but note that
this may not always be granted.
Hearings usually take place 24 hours from the date of arrest although in some cases it can be up to
48 hours. Normally the judge will hear the accused and the witnesses. If you are still in detention
after 48 hours and the hearing has not taken place, we strongly suggest that you contact your
lawyer immediately if you have not yet done so.
The time spent in prison prior to your sentence will count as part of the total sentence to be served.
What provision is there for bail?
According to local law, bail will not be granted in cases related to drug trafficking. If you are charged
on a different crime, your attorney/public defender will be best placed to advice on this matter.
What kind of legal assistance is there?
You are entitled to the assistance of a legal advisor from the time of arrest. A public attorney (at no
cost to yourself) is appointed by the Argentine State unless you wish to appoint your own private
lawyer. We recommend you to appoint a penal specialist if you choose a private lawyer. Please note
that private lawyers are very expensive and cannot guarantee your release, but you are free to
investigate this option. In the case of a private attorney, all legal costs incurred are for your own
account and neither the Embassy nor the British government will bear this expense. If you wish to
transfer funds from the United Kingdom to Argentina in order to cover legal costs, this transaction is
to be processed through your commercial bank in the UK to the legal representatives.
The Embassy cannot help you in this regard, but a list of English-speaking lawyers will be given to
you by a Consular officer.
What happens at the trial?
On your trial day you will be taken to the court office where your case is being handled. There will be
a Tribunal in charge of your case along with the public prosecutor and your attorney or public
defender. If you don‟t speak Spanish the court will be responsible for hiring an interpreter to assist
you during the trial.
Sentences
Sentences in Argentina differ and will depend on the seriousness of the crime. The courts will inform
you, your lawyer/public defender and the prison authorities of your sentence and appeals‟
processes. As already mentioned, the time spent in prison prior to your sentence will count as part of
the total sentence to be served.
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How can appeals be made?
You have the right to appeal against your sentence through your attorney or public defender. It is
usual for the public defender to appeal against your first sentence; however, the appeal process is
usually very slow and can sometimes lead to the appellant's release being delayed until the appeal
is decided. In such cases an attorney's opinion of the case is strongly recommended before
proceeding.
What provision is there for reduction of sentence (remission) e.g. for good
behaviour?
The Act 24660 regulates the “Educational stimuli” programme which helps prisoners reduce the
satisfied terms needed to access the different levels of benefits (please see the section below)
whenever they reach a certain level of education. These levels may include primary, secondary,
university, postgraduate degrees – among others.
You should consult your lawyer about the reduction offered for each educational level.
What provision is there for early release e.g. on parole?
The “benefits” system in Argentina is similar to parole in the UK. The advantage of being released
on benefit is that you would be outside of the prison, for at least some of the time, until you have
served the remainder of your sentence. This might seem much better than spending the rest of your
sentence in prison. However, while the benefits system usually works quite well for Argentine
prisoners, being released on benefit can be really difficult for foreigners. If you are told that you can
apply for benefit, it is up to you whether you decide to do so - we can't advise you either way.
However, there are some important issues that you should consider. Firstly, bear in mind that you
will only be entitled to benefits after you have spent half of your sentence. Secondly, be aware that if
you opt to be expelled from the country then you will not be allowed to be released on benefit.
Prisoners can apply for four different levels of 'benefits' according to how much of their sentence
they have served (see box below). Please note that the British Embassy cannot ask the Argentine
authorities to offer you benefits. This is something that you should raise with your lawyer.
The four levels of benefits
1. “Destacamento de Trabajo” (work benefit): you work outside the prison during the day and go
back to the prison at night. However in some penal complexes you will be allowed to work inside
the prison and earn a small income (that you can choose to collect after or during your detention)
2. “Regimen Abierto/ Destino a Establecimiento Abierto” (open prison): you live in a community
centre belonging to the Argentine authorities. You must work nearby and comply with the rules of
the centre.
3. “Confinamiento” (confinement): a prisoner who has served three quarters of their sentence and
has a record of good conduct can live outside the prison in a determined place. You must
comply with rules established by the court.
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4. “Libertad Condicional” (parole): this benefit is granted for the final period of the sentence. You
leave the prison and are supervised by a probation officer for a period equal to the remaining
sentence.
Very few British prisoners have chosen to be released on parole. But you might like to consider this
option if you are planning to live in Argentina after your detention. Before deciding whether to apply,
you should be aware that, if released on parole:






You will probably not be able to work.
You will not get money from Prisoners Abroad.
The British government will not be able to give you financial support.
Consular staff from the British Embassy will not be able to pass on “prison comforts” (e.g. money
that your family has sent to you).
Consular staff from the British Embassy will no longer be able to visit you.
You will not get your passport back from the Argentine authorities, so you will not be able to
leave the country.
So…
 You might be stuck in Argentina with no source of income. You might become destitute if you
are unable to support yourself.
 You might also feel really isolated if you do not know anyone, and you might not able to
communicate with people very well if you do not speak Spanish fluently.
 If you do apply for benefits, and you expect to get support from family or friends, you could warn
them about the extra expense and ask them to save money in advance.
What provision is there for clemency or pardon?
Ask your lawyer for detailed information on how the political authorities in Argentina can give
pardon/clemency to people found guilty of committing a crime.
What about any financial penalties?
There are different types of penalties in Argentine Criminal law. Depending on the crime committed,
you might be forced to face a financial penalty decided by the Judge.
Is transfer to another prison within Argentina possible?
If you have been tried and convicted you will probably be sent to a prison outside Buenos Aires
(“Colonia Penitenciaria”) where you can expect to serve your sentence. Other transfer requests are
most likely to be permitted when there are exceptional and compassionate reasons for doing so.
Is transfer to the UK a possibility?
There is no Prisoner Transfer Agreement between the UK and Argentina. We have been negotiating
the Prisoners Transfer Agreement between Argentina and the United Kingdom for several years, but
no formal agreement exists at the time of this writing.
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What are the procedures for release and deportation?
In Argentina a prisoner is expected to serve the whole sentence in country as instructed by the
court. Depending on the crime committed and the punishment received restrictions may apply to
your mobility.
However, local regulations admit that foreigners can be deported from the country as from the
moment they have served half of their sentence, upon the Judge‟s authorisation (called
“extraneamiento”). The Immigration Act 25871 states in provision no. 64, subsection A, that all
foreign detainees that are released upon deportation will return to their country of origin or residence
and the criminal case against them will be closed. This means the deportation will act as the formal
end of the sentence. A foreign detainee will only be eligible for deportation as from the moment the
half of his sentence has elapsed. Foreigners who are deported are subject to a life ban on re-entry .
To start the procedure, you or your lawyer can write a letter to the judge stating your wish to be
expelled. Once the judge has all the information he will ask the defender and prosecutor to give their
views on the case. When the decision is taken and it is positive, the judge will inform the National
Immigration Department to start making the arrangements for expulsion.
There are 2 steps involving the expulsion process for deportation:
1.
The “judicial” step where the judge signs/authorises the expulsion and forwards the case to
the National Immigration Department.
2.
The “administrative” step that corresponds to the National Immigration Department who will
liaise with the airline and inform your lawyer and your Consulate of your date of departure.
You cannot expect to be deported on the exact date that you reach half of your sentence. This will
depend on flight availability. The detainee‟s transfer from Argentina to the country of origin or
residence is considered as a public burden so the airline that has regular flights to the country of
expulsion has to cover all the costs incurred in the trip. This means you will not have to pay for your
departure ticket when you are expelled for deportation. The Argentine authorities and the airline will
take care of the costs for you.
If you choose not to be deported you will be expected to serve the whole of your sentence, and once
released you will have to face the costs of your departure flight whenever you decide to leave the
country.
PRISONERS ABROAD
Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens
imprisoned overseas. It is the only UK charity providing this service and it is available to all, whether
guilty or innocent, convicted or on remand. Prisoners Abroad is concerned with your health and
welfare, both during your imprisonment and also on your return to the UK, through their resettlement
service (if you have registered whilst in prison). They can also provide support and advice to your
family during your imprisonment. In order to access any services, prisoners must first register with
Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form.
Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point
of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer will vary from country to
country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:
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
your rights as a prisoner and issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK

obtaining magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter

writing to a pen pal

learning the language of your country of imprisonment

translation of documents

grants for food if you are in a developing country and don‟t have funds from other sources

grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you don‟t have funds from other sources

preparing for release

help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and assistance with the
cost of visiting
Prisoners Abroad
89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK
Telephone: 00 44 (0)20 7561 6820 or, for your relatives in the UK, Freephone 0808 172 0098
(Mondays to Fridays 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, UK time)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.prisonersabroad.org.uk
TRANSLATION OF USEFUL TERMS
Basics
My name is
I am… (E.g. I am English)
The
A
It
I/We/Me
What/Which
Left
Right
Here
There
What day does the…
I cannot…
Hello
Good afternoon
Good evening
Good night
How are you?
Fine thanks and you?
Excuse me
Me llamo
Soy…
El/La/Los/Las
Un/Una/Unos/Unas
Lo/la/le
Yo/Nosotros/Yo
Qué/Cuál
Izquierda
Derecha
Aquí
Ahí
¿Qué día…?
No puedo…
Hola
Buenas tardes
Buenas tardes
Buenas noches
¿Cómo estás?
Bien gracias, ¿y tú?
Perdone
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See you later
Yes
No
Please
Thank you
I don‟t know
Could you repeat that more slowly?
I don‟t understand
I do not speak Spanish very well
I am sorry to bother you but…
May I borrow your…
How can I obtain…?
Is there any mail for me?
How much does this cost?
Do you mind if I open the window?
Do you mind if I smoke?
Could you kindly write that down for me?
Do you have the correct time?
What is your nationality?
Hasta luego
Sí
No
Por favor
Gracias
No sé
¿Puedes repetir más despacio?
No entiendo
No hablo muy bien español
Siento molestarte pero….
¿Me prestas tu…?
¿Cómo puedo obtener…?
¿Hay correo para mí?
¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
¿Te importa si abro la ventana?
¿Te importa si fumo?
¿Podrías escribir eso para mí por favor?
¿Tienes la hora correcta?
¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad?
Useful phrases/vocabulary
The telephone is out of order
I do not have any means to buy…
I would like to order…
This is urgent
May I make an appointment to see…
I need to see my lawyer
Can I have a list of local English-speaking lawyers?
Who is dealing with my case?
Does the prison have a list of translators?
Can I get bail?
Can you tell me how long I will be held in police
custody before I get transferred to a prison?
What must I do to get transferred to another prison?
Can you tell me how long my sentence is?
Can you tell me the date my sentence finishes?
Can I move to Mr…..‟s cell as he speaks English?
Can Mr… move into this cell?
I am very cold; can I have an extra blanket please?
When is the shop open?
How much money do I have in my account?
What day does the doctor come? What time?
Is there any work that I can do?
I would like to work in the…
Can you show me what I must do?
Could I buy a Spanish/English dictionary?
Can you contact the Consul for me?
I want to make a complaint
Can I have permission for my family to send me….?
El teléfono no funciona
No me puedo permitir comprar…
Me gustaría pedir…
Esto es urgente
¿Podría fijar una cita con…?
Necesito ver a mi abogado
¿Me das una lista de abogados que hablen ingles?
¿Quién está a cargo de mi caso?
¿Hay una lista de traductores en la prisión?
¿Puedo pedir la libertad bajo fianza?
¿Me podrías decir cuánto tiempo estaré detenido
antes de ser transferido a una prisión?
¿Qué debo hacer para ser transferido a otra prisión?
¿Me podrías decir cuánto tiempo durará mi
sentencia?
¿Me podrías decir la fecha en que mi sentencia
terminará?
¿Me puedo cambiar a la celda del Sr…., ya que habla
inglés?
¿Puede el Sr… cambiarse a esta celda?
Tengo mucho frío, ¿me das otra manta por favor?
¿Cuándo abre la tienda?
¿Cuánto dinero tengo en mi cuenta?
¿Qué día viene el médico? ¿A qué hora?
¿Hay algún trabajo que puedo hacer?
Me gustaría trabajar en el/la….
¿Me puedes enseñar lo qué debo hacer?
¿Podría comprar un diccionario de inglés/español?
¿Puedes contactar el cónsul para mí?
Quiero poner una queja
Me gustaría pedir permiso para que mi familia me
envíe…
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As I am not allowed visits, could I have a parcel of
clothes sent to the prison?
Are there any items which they are not permitted to
send me?
I want to send this letter to…
Why are my letters taking so long to get to my family?
I have not heard from my family and I am worried
about them
How do I arrange a visit for my family?
Can you confirm that my family has booked a visit for
(a specific date)?
May I have an extended visit as I do not get many
and my family has to travel a long way?
Could I go to the prison school to learn Spanish?
Could you give this letter to Mr… cell no…. so he can
translate it for me?
Como no tengo permitido ninguna visita, ¿se me
podría enviar un paquete de ropa a la prisión?
¿Hay algo que no pueden enviarme?
Quiero enviar esta carta a…
¿Por qué mis cartas tardan tanto en llegar a mi
familia?
No sé nada de mi familia y estoy preocupado/a por
ellos
¿Qué tengo que hacer para arreglar una visita de mi
familia?
¿Podrías confirmar qué día ha reservado mi familia
para visitarme?
¿Podría pedir una visita más larga ya que no recibo
muchas visitas y mi familia tiene que viajar de lejos?
¿Podría ir a las clases de la prisión para aprender
español
¿Podrías darle esta carta al Sr…. celda número…
para que la traduzca para mí?
Time/days/numbers
Today
Tomorrow
Morning
Afternoon
Night
Next week
Next month
Next year
Last week
Last month
Last year
Weekend
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Christmas
Hoy
Mañana
Mañana
Tarde
Noche
La próxima semana
El próximo mes
El próximo año
La semana pasada
El mes pasado
El año pasado
Fin de semana
Lunes
Martes
Miércoles
Jueves
Viernes
Sábado
Domingo
Enero
Febrero
Marzo
Abril
Mayo
Junio
Julio
Agosto
Septiembre
Octubre
Noviembre
Diciembre
Primavera
Verano
Otoño
Invierno
Navidad
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Easter
New Year
National Holiday
One (first)
Two (second)
Three (third)
Four (fourth)
Five (fifth)
Six (sixth)
Seven (seventh)
Eight (eighth)
Nine (ninth)
Ten (tenth)
Eleven (eleventh)
Twelve (twelfth)
Thirteen (thirteenth)
Fourteen (fourteenth)
Fifteen (fifteenth)
Sixteen (sixteenth)
Seventeen (seventeenth)
Eighteen (eighteenth)
Nineteen (nineteenth)
Twenty (twentieth)
Thirty (thirtieth)
Forty (fortieth)
Fifty (fiftieth)
Sixty (sixtieth)
Seventy (seventieth)
Eighty (eightieth)
Ninety (ninetieth)
Hundred (hundredth)
Thousand
Semana Santa
Año Nuevo
Día festivo
Uno (primero/a)
Dos (Segundo/a)
Tres (Tercero/a)
Cuatro (cuarto/a)
Cinco (quinto/a)
Seis (sexto/a)
Siete (séptimo/a)
Ocho (octavo/a)
Nueve (noveno/a)
Diez (décimo/a)
Once (décimoprimero/a)
Doce (décimosegundo/a)
Trece (décimotercero/a)
Catorce (décimocuarto/a)
Quince (décimoquinto/a)
Dieciseis (décimosexto/a)
Diecisiete (décimoséptimo/a)
Dieciocho (décimoctavo/a)
Diecinueve (décimonoveno/a)
Veinte (vigésimo/a)
Treinta (trigésimo/a)
Cuarenta (cuadragésimo/a)
Cincuenta (quincuagésimo/a)
Sesenta (sexagésimo/a)
Setenta (septuagésimo/a)
Ochenta (Octogésimo/a)
Noventa (nonagésimo/a)
Cien (centésimo)
Mil (milésimo/a)
What time is it? ¿Qué hora es?
07h00 Seven o‟clock in the morning
07h30 Seven thirty in the morning
12h00 Midday
13h00 One o‟clock in the afternoon
14h40 Two-forty in the afternoon
19h45 seven-forty-five in the evening
00h00 midnight
Las siete de la mañana
Las siete y media de la mañana
Las doce del mediodía
La una de la tarde
Las dos y cuarenta de la tarde
Las siete y cuarenta y cinco de la tarde
Las doce de la noche (medianoche)
General vocabulary
Cell
Bed
Individual cell
Shared cell
Library
Showers
Toilet
Visiting rooms
Celda
Cama
Celda individual
Celda compartida
Biblioteca
Duchas
Cuarto de baño
Salas de visita
Garden
Reception
Director
Assisant Director
Shopkeeper
Guard/Warder
Jardín
Recepción
Director
Ayudante del director
Tendero/a
Guardia/Vigilante
Stationery
Books
Pen
Paper
Libros
Bolígrafo
Papel
Letter
Envelope
Stamp
Carta
Sobre
Sello
21
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Telephone
Teléfono
Toiletries
Soap
Shampoo
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Tissues
Jabón
Champú
Cepillo de dientes
Pasta de dientes
Desodorante
Pañuelos de papel
Toilet Paper
Wash
Razor
Shave
Towel
Papel higiénico
Lavar
Navaja
Afeitar
Toalla
Tienda/Cantina
Manta
Radio
Lector de CDs/Radio-
Playing cards
Ball
Battery
Una baraja
Pelota
Pila/Batería
Clothing
Shirt
Shorts
Shoes
Socks
Underwear
Trousers
T-shirt
Trainers
Camisa
Pantalones cortos
Zapatos
Calcetines
Ropa interior
Pantalones
Camiseta
Zapatillas de deporte
Jumper/pullover
Jeans
Vest
Sandals
Small
Medium
Large
Jersey
Vaqueros
Camiseta de tiras
Sandalias
Pequeño/a
Mediano/a
Grande
Proper Nouns
British Consul
Britain
British
England
Cónsul británico/a
Gran Bretaña
Británico/a
Inglaterra
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Escocia
Gales
Irlanda del Norte
Family
Friend
Family
Mother
Father
Sister
Brother
Husband
Amigo/a
Familia
Madre
Padre
Hermana
Hermano
Marido
Wife
Partner
Daughter
Son
Child
Cousin
Mujer
Pareja
Hija
Hijo
Niño/a
Primo/a
Food/meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
To eat
To drink
Knife
Fork
Spoon
Tray
Glass
Cup/Mug
Plate
Bottle
Desayuno
Comida
Cena
Comer
Beber
Cuchillo
Tenedor
Cuchara
Bandeja
Vaso
Taza
Plato
Botella
Coffee
Tea
Water
Milk
Powdered milk
Soda
Hot chocolate
Fresh fruit
Apple
Orange
Banana
Pear
Meat
Café
Té
Agua
Leche
Leche en polvo
Soda
Chocolate caliente
Fruta fresca
Manzana
Naranja
Plátano
Pera
Carne
Other items
Shop/Canteen
Blanket
Radio
CD/cassette player
cassette
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Lamb
Beef
Pork
Ham
Bacon
Chicken
Fish
Tuna
Cod
Sea food
Vegetables
Cabbage
Carrot
Mushroom
Spinach
Green beans
Peas
Potato
Cordero
Carne de vaca
Cerdo
Jamón
Panceta/Beicon
Pollo
Pescado
Atún
Bacalao
Marisco
Verduras
Repollo
Zanahoria
Champiñón
Espinaca
Judías verdes
Guisantes
Patata
Peppers
Onion
Lettuce
Bread
Rice
Pasta
Butter
Jam/preserve
Eggs
Cheese
Oil
Salt
Sugar
Yoghurt
Biscuits
Cereal
Chocolate
Pimientos
Cebolla
Lechuga
Pan
Arroz
Pasta
Mantequilla
Mermelada
Huevos
Queso
Aceite
Sal
Azúcar
Yogur
Galletas
Cereales
Chocolate
Body/Health
I need to see the Doctor
I require medical assistance for the following
reasons…
It is urgent
I don‟t feel very well
I am bleeding
I have a pain in my…
Mild pain
Severe pain
I have a cold/flu
I have a sore throat
I have a fever
I am allergic to…
I am having problems breathing
I have a cold
I have an upset stomach
I am constipated
I have diarrhoea
I have spots
I have a rash
I am diabetic
I am epileptic
I have heart problems
I have ear ache
I have a headache
I have cramps
I have problems with my eyes
I need to have my eyes tested
I am pregnant
I have high/low blood pressure
I have high cholesterol
Have you something for…
Do you have a bandage?
Do you have a plaster?
Necesito ver a un médico
Necesito ayuda médica por las siguientes
razones…
Es urgente
No me siento muy bien
Estoy sangrando
Me duele el/la…
Dolor moderado
Dolor fuerte
Tengo un resfriado/gripe
Me duele la garganta
Tengo fiebre
Soy alérgico a…
Tengo problemas al respirar
Tengo catarro
Me duele el estómago
Estoy estreñido/a
Tengo diarrea
Tengo granos
Tengo un sarpullido
Soy diabético/a
Tengo epilepsia
Tengo problemas del corazón
Me duele el oído
Me duele la cabeza
Tengo calambres
Tengo problemas en los ojos
Necesito que me examinen los ojos
Estoy embarazada
Tengo la tensión alta/baja
Tengo el colesterol alto
¿Tienes algo para…?
¿Tienes una venda?
¿Tienes una tirita?
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Phrases which may be used by the doctor
Where does it hurt?
Do you have a temperature?
Do you have any allergies?
Do you suffer from any other illnesses?
What medication do you take normally?
Are you receiving medical treatment at the
moment?
What type?
Since when?
Is this the first time you have had this problem?
Do you have a cold?
What colour is the phlegm?
Are you a drug addict?
How much do you weigh?
Step onto the scales please?
Please lie on the bed
Please take off your shirt
This is a prescription for…
You must take this medication…
…before you go to bed
…three times a day
…in the morning and at night
Dental terms
I need to see the dentist
I have toothache
I have broken a tooth
A filling
Tooth decay
A tooth
A wisdom tooth
¿Dónde te duele?
¿Tienes fiebre?
¿Tienes alguna alergia?
¿Tienes alguna otra enfermedad?
¿Tomas algún tipo de medicación?
¿Estás recibiendo tratamiento médico en estos
momentos?
¿De qué tipo?
¿Desde cuándo?
¿Es ésta la primera vez que tienes este problema?
¿Tienes catarro?
¿De qué color es la flema?
¿Tienes adicción a alguna droga?
¿Cuánto pesas?
Súbete a las pesas por favor
Acuéstate en la camilla/cama por favor
Sácate la camisa por favor
Ésta es una receta para…
Debes tomarte esta medicina…
…antes de irte a la cama
…tres veces al día
…por la mañana y por la noche
Necesito ver al dentista
Me duele una muela/un diente
Tengo una muela/diente rota/o
Un empaste
Caries
Un diente (front)/Una muela(back)
La muela del juicio
Prescribed drugs/treatment
Painkiller
Analgésico
Antibiotics
Antibiótico
Analgesics
Analgésico
Aspirin
Aspirina
Lice treatment
Tratamiento para piojos
Inhaler
Inhalador
Tablet/Pill
Pastilla/Píldora
Capsule
Cápsula
Cream
Injection
Vaccine
Bandage
Sleeping tablet
Tranquiliser
Laxative
Antiseptic
Crema
Inyección
Vacuna
Venda
Pastillas para dormir
Tranquilizante
Laxante
Antiséptico
Human Body
The head
La cabeza
The skull
El Cráneo
Hair
Pelo
Face
Cara
Eye/eyes
Ojo/ojos
Nose
Nariz
Mouth
Boca
Lips
Labios
Tongue
Lengua
Ear
Oreja
(external)/Oído(internal)
Neck
Cuello
Anus
Ano
Penis
Pene
Testicles
Testículos
Vagina
Vagina
Leg
Knee
Throat
Shoulder
Chest
Breasts (female)
Stomach
Back
Arms
Elbow
Hand
Finger
Thumb
Hip
Ankle
Foot
Pierna
Rodilla
Garganta
Hombro
Pecho
Pechos
Estómago
Espalda
Brazos
Codo
Mano
Dedo
Dedo pulgar
Cadera
Tobillo
Pie
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Heel
Toe
Limb
Muscle
Bone
Spinal column
Rib
Skin
Talón
Dedo del pie
Extremidad
Músculo
Hueso
Columna Vertebral
Costilla
Piel
Heart
Lungs
Liver
Kidneys
Bladder
Breathing
Blood
Corazón
Pulmones
Hígado
Riñones
Vejiga
Respirar
Sangre
Health problems
An illness
A pain
An injury/wound
An infection
Abscess
Angina
Appendicitis
Arthritis
Asthma
A bite (insect)
Bronchitis
Cancer
Concussion
An insect sting
Sun stroke
Tuberculosis
Typhoid
Ulcer
A wart
Una enfermedad
Un dolor
Una herida
Una infección
Absceso
Angina de pecho
Apendicitis
Artritis
Asma
Una picadura
Bronquitis
Cáncer
Conmoción cerebral
Una picadura de insecto
Insolación
Tuberculosis
Fiebre tifoidea
Úlcera
Una verruga
Cough
Cyst
Diabetes
An epileptic fit
Fever
Fracture
A hernia
HIV/AIDS
Liver attack
hígado
Leukaemia
Malaria
Migraine
Depression
Pneumonia
Rheumatism
A scar
A scratch
Sprain
Catarro
Quiste
Diabetis
Un ataque epiléptico
Fiebre
Fractura
Una hernia
Virus del SIDA
Ataque hepático/del
Leucemia
Malaria
Migraña
Depresión
Pulmonía
Reumatismo
Una cicatriz
Un arañazo
Esquince
In Spanish all nouns have a gender, either masculine or feminine (for example, the word for 'house' (casa) is a
feminine noun so 'a house'/'the house' is translated as 'una casa'/'la casa'. The word for 'book' (libro) is a
masculine noun so 'a book'/'the book' is translated as 'un libro'/'el libro').
The gender of the word will affect adjectives which refer to that word. For example, if you want to say 'the red
house' you would say 'la casa roja'. If you wanted to say 'a red book' you would say 'un libro rojo'.
Where appropriate, the gender of each form of the word has been given below: masculine forms of the word
are denoted by '(m)', feminine by '(f)'. The plural form of the word (i.e when there is more than one of the
object concerned) is denoted by 'pl'. So, 'these houses' would appear as 'estas casas (fpl)' and 'those books'
would appear as 'esos libros (mpl)'.
Accents may appear above certain vowels, helping pronunciation by indicating where the stress should be
placed in that particular word (e.g. prisión, miércoles, teléfono). In the absence of accents, words ending in
either a vowel or …n / …s will have stress placed on the penultimate syllable (e.g. nosotros, transferido,
urgente). If the word ends in a consonant other than …n / …s, the last syllable is stressed (e.g. necesitar,
enfermedad, espanol)
To have
I have
you (singular) have
he/she has
we have
you (plural) have
they have
Tener
yo tengo
tú tienes
él/ella tiene
nosotros/as tenemos
vosotros/as teneis
ellos/as tienen
(In Spanish, there are two verbs which translate as „to be‟: „ser‟ and „estar‟. „Ser‟ is meant to convey something
permanent (e.g. „I am English‟, „I am a man‟), and „estar‟ is meant to convey something more temporary like a
mood or emotion (e.g. „I am ill‟, or „I am happy‟).
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UNCLASSIFIED
To be
I am
you (singular) are
he/she is
we are
you (plural) are
they are
Ser
yo soy
tú eres
él/ella es
nosotros/as somos
vosotros/as sois
ellos/as son
To be
I am
you (singular) are
he/she is
we are
you (plural) are
they are
Estar
estoy
tú estás
él/ella está
nosotros/as estamos
vosotros/as estais
ellos/as están
To want/I want
To need/I need
To feel/I feel
To have to/I have to
To see/I see
To use/I use
To speak/I speak
To write/I write
To go/I go
To be able to
To give
Querer/yo quiero
Necesitar/yo necesito
Sentir/yo siento
Tener que/yo tengo que
Ver/yo veo
Usar/yo uso
Hablar/yo hablo
Escribir/yo escribo
Ir/yo voy
Poder/yo puedo
Dar/yo doy
Prepositions
After
Before
During
Since
Until
In/inside
Outside
At
From
On
Under/below/beneath
Above
Over
Beside/next to/by
Near to
Through
Towards
Behind
Between
Opposite
With
Without
Después
Antes
Durante
Desde
Hasta
en/dentro
Fuera
en
De/desde
en/encima
Debajo
Encima
por encima de
al lado de
cerca de
a través
hacia
detrás
entre
en frente
con
sin
26
UNCLASSIFIED
ANNEXES
Annex 1: Options to transfer funds to British Nationals Overseas via the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office
Please note: we can only advance funds to the person overseas, once your payment has cleared in
our account.
1) ELECTRONIC BANK TRANSFERS: Payment by electronic/internet bank transfer can be
made either using online or telephone banking, or at your local bank or building society.
For all bank transfers, you will need to include the following details:
Bank:
Account Name:
Sort Code:
Account Number:
Reference:
National Westminster Bank
FCO Multi Vote
60-70-80
10012362
FCO case reference number (which you should obtain from the
Consular Officer), surname and first name of the person you are
sending the funds for, plus country name if possible,
e.g.
11-THB-123456 SMITH JOE - THAILAND
or
CON-1234 SMITH JOE – THAILAND
IBAN
SWIFT/BIC
GB56NWBK60708010012362
NWBKGB2L
You may also need our bank address which is:
London Corporate Service Centre, CPB Services, 2nd Floor, 280 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M
4RB.
1) BY POST
Payments by Postal Order, Bankers Draft or Building Society or personal cheque should be
crossed and make payable to “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office”. They should be
sent to:
Accounts Receivable
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Corporate Service Centre
PO Box 6108
Milton Keynes
MK10 1PX
We recommend that you use Special Delivery.
Please ensure that you include a note briefly explaining who the money is for, why you are
sending these funds and quoting the FCO case reference number. You may wish to use the
payment slip on the next page.
If you would like a receipt, please include a stamped addressed envelope.
Please note that it can take approximately 15 days for personal cheques to clear and for
payment to be received. Please write the cheque guarantee number and expiry date, and
the FCO case reference number, on the back of the cheque.
We are unable to receive payment by credit or debit card, or by cash.
27
UNCLASSIFIED
To: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
FCO case reference number:
Date:
Please find enclosed funds for:
Full Name:
Country/place the above is in:
Amount enclosed:
Fee to be deducted:
Payment method:
My name is:
My address is:
Annex 2: List of English-Speaking Lawyers
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-english-speaking-lawyers-and-translators-in-paraguay
Annex 3: Private Translators/Interpreters
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-translators-and-interpreters-in-paraguay
Annex 4: FCO leaflet: In prison abroad
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/35521/in-prison-abroad.pdf
Annex 5: Prisoners Abroad authorisation form
http://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/uploads/news/id48/Authorisation%20form%20v3.1%20August%202013.pdf
Annex 6: Prisoners Abroad family contact form
http://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/uploads/news/id44/Contact_with_Family_Friends.pdf
Annex 7: Prisoners Abroad CFF form
http://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/uploads/news/id49/Form_cff.pdf
Annex 8: Prisoners Abroad
http://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/uploads/news/id45/General_leaflet_for_prisoners.pdf
Annex 9: Fair Trials International questionnaire and leaflets
http://www.fairtrials.org/arrested-abroad/
28
UNCLASSIFIED
Disclaimer
This booklet was compiled by the Consular Section at the British Embassy Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It is revised on a regular basis.
If any of the information contained in this booklet is incorrect, please draw inaccuracies to our
attention so that we can make amendments.
The British Embassy in Argentina is not accountable for the information provided in this booklet.
Local proceedings are subject to change at any time.
Thank you.
Friday, 12 February 2016
29