History of the Prison

The complicated situation of the judicial units in Banská Bystrica was planned to be solved by new buildings for the court and prison, which were subject to a selection contest. Construction began in May 1897, and on October 15, 1898, the buildings of the Royal County Court and the prison were handed over for use. The old premises gradually ceased to meet capacity, hygiene, and safety requirements, making it necessary to expand the building. As a result, major reconstruction work began in 1929 and later again in 1937.

The current new prison facility has been built on the territory and partly also on the foundations of the former Royal County Prison dated 1897. The original prison buildings were gradually demolished and in their place thenew buildings were built in the end of 90s according to the most challenging criteria for modern prison facilities. In 1997, the reconstruction of the former Royal County Prison was completed and its perimeter wall and a part of the halls became integral parts of the new facility. The completion of the remand prison essentially meant that one of the oldest prisons in Slovakia ceased to exist and was replaced by a modern, purpose-built institution.

The Present

The area of the facility has a shape of a closed quadrangle. Its perimeter comprises an administrative-operational and technical building and facilities for the remand detention and imprisonment. The remand prison facility is a multi-storey building with one underground and four above-ground floors, designed in the shape of an inverted letter "F." During its construction, several modernization features and requirements for the humanization of remand detention were taken into account, which is also reflected in the design of the individual cells.The total capacity of the facility is 130 cells for 401 persons (including 52 cells for the sentenced prisoners). One cell with a capacity of four persons is designated for the isolation of ill prisones in the event of infectious diseases, and three cells are intended for the enforcement of disciplinary sanctions. On every floor, where the remand takes place is a separate workplace of a regime officer and a workplace of an independent officer performing supervision tasks. The workplace includes monitoring equipment and control panel of the communication system. The cells are mostly double-bedded, with some designed to accommodate four or six persons. Its equipment includes a separate sanitary unit with a toilet, washbasin with hot and cold water and a shower. Each has an electrical connector and a TV antenna. The remand prisoners may use their own electrical appliances, for example, to heat water for tea and coffee and watch TV on their own receivers. The cells are equipped with a communication system allowing the remand prisoners to communicate with the staff on duty and transmit radio messages. Cells also include tailor-made atypical furniture. Every remand prisoner has assigned individual locker for storing personal belongings and own bed with mattress, pillow, blanket and chair at a common table. Prison yards have atypical and unique location - directly on the top floor of the facility.

The building has modern premises for the performance of guard service and associated services. The facility is equipped with the necessary facilities as well as monitoring and security technology. A modern information system has been gradually implemented in the facility.

The facility has established a center for psychodiagnostic and counseling activities, which conducts assessments of sentenced prisoners for the purpose of their placement within the prison system, taking into account the degree of their psychological disturbance and personality characteristics. At the same time, it provides psychological services for the remand prisoners, as well as advisory and consulting activities in addressing crisis situations of the remand prisoners during the remand detention. In addition, the center conducts psychodiagnostic assessments of applicants for service in the Corps of Prison and Court Guard. Currently, the center employs four psychologists.

Facility library for prisoners has a sufficient number of titles in various genres including foreign language and religious literature which are regularly changed. There's even a room for religious and pastoral activities.

Sentenced prisoners serving their prison sentences in the facility carry out cleaning and maintenance work, as well as certain other services, as part of the internal operations.

The medical facility consists of four outpatient clinics – one general clinic for prison officers and employees, one for prisoners, a dental clinic, and an X-ray unit.

Health center provides comprehensive health care to persons entrusted to direct care.

Prison Personnel

State service carries out over 220 staff members. Court guard provides the execution of the Service at the Regional Court in Banská Bystrica, District Court in Banska Bystrica, Regional Prosecutor's Office in Banská Bystrica, District Prosecutor's Office in Banská Bystrica, Special Court in Banská Bystrica and 7 district courts and 7 district prosecution offices.

To support the physical and mental regeneration of the facility’s prison officers and employees, a mini rehabilitation center is available, offering hydrotherapy and electrotherapy, as well as a sauna and a fully equipped gym for developing and maintaining physical fitness.