They are in charge of the rights of prisoners during their internment, controlling the fulfilment of sentences of deprivation of freedom, and resolving everything regarding the inmates of prison centres. Their decisions may be appealed against in the Provincial Court where the prison centre is situated.

The functions of the Penitentiary Surveillance Courts include the execution of sentences of deprivation of freedom, security measures, protection of the rights and benefits of the prisoners within the prison centres, as well as others laid down by the prison law. Their territorial scope is of one or more provinces and they have their head office in the capital of the province.