United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems A/RES/67/187 Guideline 4 Legal aid at the pretrial stage 44. To ensure that detained persons have prompt access to legal aid in conformity with the law, States should take measures: (a) To ensure that police and judicial authorities do not arbitrarily restrict the right or access to legal aid for persons detained, arrested, suspected or accused of, or charged with a criminal offence, in particular in police stations; (b) To facilitate access for legal aid providers assigned to provide assistance to detained persons in police stations and other places of detention for the purpose of providing that assistance; (c) To ensure legal representation at all pretrial proceedings and hearings; (d) To monitor and enforce custody time limits in police holding cells or other detention centres, for example, by instructing judicial authorities to screen the remand caseload in detention centres on a regular basis to make sure that people are remanded lawfully, that their cases are dealt with in a timely manner and that the conditions in which they are held meet the relevant legal standards, including international ones; (e) To provide every person, on admission to a place of detention, with information on his or her rights in law, the rules of the place of detention and the initial stages of the pretrial process. Such information should be provided in a manner that corresponds to the needs of illiterate persons, minorities, persons with disabilities and children and be in a language that the person in need of legal aid understands. Information provided to children should be provided in a manner appropriate for their age and maturity. The information material should be supported by visual aids prominently located in each detention centre; (f) To request bar or legal associations and other partnership institutions to establish a roster of lawyers and paralegals to support a comprehensive legal system for persons detained, arrested, suspected or accused of, or charged with a criminal offence, in particular at police stations; (g) To ensure that every person charged with a criminal offence has adequate time, facilities and technical and financial support, in case he or she does not have sufficient means, to prepare his or her defence and is able to consult with his or her lawyer in full confidentiality. Guideline 5 Legal aid during court proceedings 45. To guarantee that every person charged with a criminal offence for which a term of imprisonment or capital punishment may be imposed by a court of law has access to legal aid in all proceedings at court, including on appeal and other related proceedings, States should introduce measures: (a) To ensure that the accused understands the case against him or her and the possible consequences of the trial; (b) To ensure that every person charged with a criminal offence has adequate time, facilities and technical and financial support, in case he or she does not have sufficient means, to prepare his or her defence and is able to consult with his or her lawyer in full confidentiality; (c) To provide representation in any court proceedings by a lawyer of choice, where appropriate, or by a competent lawyer assigned by the court or other legal aid 11/20