The Valdice prison has put nearly 20 million into repairs over the past five years

Valdice - The prison in Valdice, located in the Jičín region, which has been functioning in a former Carthusian monastery since 1857, has invested nearly 20 million crowns in renovations over the past five years. The work primarily concerned the prison section, aiming to improve conditions for inmates. The facility, predominantly designated for the most serious criminals, also plans repairs to the boiler room and the construction of another dormitory for convicts in the coming years, said the prison spokesperson Eva Francová to ČTK. As of July 10, there were 1,151 convicted individuals serving their sentences in the prison.

In the prison complex, which covers nearly ten hectares, a facility for life-sentenced inmates was put into operation in 2011. The following year, a multipurpose space for inmates, which also serves as a dining hall for working convicts, was renovated. In 2014, the prison repaired part of dormitory A and the floors and sanitary facilities in 45 cells of dormitory C. Floor renovations continued in 2015, 2016, and this year as well. In 2015, the prison also covered the entrance gate.

This year, a supporting operational center is being completed in the prison area, to which the camera system from the dormitories and workplaces is connected, which is expected to enhance the safety of both staff and inmates.

As of July 10, there were 24 life-sentenced inmates serving their sentences in Valdice prison, 608 prisoners were in increased security regime, 522 in security regime, and 21 convicts had sentences in a supervisory prison. In the past, there were many more convicts in Valdice prison; for example, between 1948 and 1990, up to 2,700 prisoners were housed in the cells. Their number decreased after the amnesty in 1990, but for instance, in 2001, there were still 1,500 prisoners in Valdice.

About 40 percent of Valdice prisoners are employed. They work in areas such as casting grinding or cardboard work, and they are also employed in the internal operations of the prison, such as in the laundry or kitchen. A total of 421 people work in Valdice prison, including 249 members of the prison service, while the rest are civilian employees.