HISTORY OF THE PRISON

Royal county prison was put into operation in 1902 with a capacity of 110 prisoners, temporarily accommodating up to 220 prisoners. It was operated as a county prison until 1949. In 1960, it was closed and subsequently used as a warehouse by the State Material Reserves. After nearly 37 years, the prison was renovated and resumed its activities by establishing a remand prison on February 14, 1997. Due to overcrowding, a prison and remand prison were established on October 1, 2009, focusing on the imprisonment of female prisoners under medium security, as well as the temporary placement of remand and sentenced male prisoners for the catchment areas of the district courts and prosecutor's offices of Spišská Nová Ves, Poprad, and Kežmarok. On February 1, 2013, the prison underwent another transformation, becoming a facility for the imprisonment of sentenced women under medium security following adopted organizational changes. Since April 1, 2016, the prison has provided imprisonment for sentenced women in all three levels of security.

THE PRESENT

In addition to the imprisonment of sentenced women, Levoča Prison also ensures the maintenance of order and security through the Judicial Guard section in three district court buildings and in the premises of three prosecutor’s offices within the Prešov and Košice self-governing regions. The current accommodation capacity of the prison is 112 prisoners, with double-bedded, three-bedded, and four-bedded cells available. As part of the management of special categories of prisoners, the prison has a special unit with a security regime. It also includes disciplinary punishment cells, a padded cell, and medical isolation cells. Fully automated showers are provided to meet the hygienic needs of the sentenced women. Each cell is equipped with standard furnishings and includes electrical power outlets and cable connections for television signal.

Depending on the prison’s capabilities and conditions, cultural and awareness-raising activities focus on encouraging active leisure time from wake-up to lights-out. These include watching television, playing board games, engaging in sports, and participating in various hobby groups. As part of the journalism group, prisoners publish their own magazine titled “Mosaic from Sédria.” For physical activities, they have the opportunity to exercise both indoors (table tennis, fitness training) and outdoors in the prison’s courtyard (dodgeball, aerobics).

For individual workouts, outdoor exercise equipment is available in the courtyard (stepper, stationary bicycle). Throughout the year—and especially during holidays—prisoners participate in the preparation and organization of cultural events, as well as in various prison-wide activities, competitions, and quizzes.

The education of prisoners is provided through lower-level vocational training and preparation for employment and self-care activities, based on an agreement with the Secondary Vocational School of Services in Levoča. Prisoners can also borrow books from the prison library, which holds over three thousand titles, including foreign-language and religious literature.

Health care is provided in a modern, well-equipped medical facility by a physician and three qualified nurses. An integral part of the services includes specialized dental and psychiatric care. In addition to care provided by nurses, a significant part of the nurses’ work involves delivering educational programs focused on drug prevention, carried out under the National Health Promotion Program. The head physician of the medical facility also performs medical assessment duties for all prisons of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard.

Religious services for Catholic believers are provided by the prison dean of the Vicariate of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard in the renovated prison chapel. Pastoral services are also provided by a pastor of the Ecumenical Pastoral Service and by registered religious organizations.

As part of the employment program, women are assigned to work within the facility’s internal operation and in the prison industry center at workplaces established both inside and outside the prison. Based on contracts for the provision of labor and services, the prisoners perform light assembly, finishing, packaging work, and sorting.The average employment rate of prisoners has long ranged between 50% and 70%.

PRISON PERSONNEL

The duties of the prison are carried out by 114 prison officers and 18 civilian employees, in accordance with the established number of positions. The average age of the employees is 52 years, with an average employment duration of 14 years. The average age of the prison officers is 40 years, with an average length of service of 12 years. A total of 49% of the prison personnel hold a first- or second-level university degree.

SOCIAL PROGRAM

To support rest and recovery, the prison offers family recreational stays for its prison officers and employees. During school holidays, special recreational programs are organized for employees with school-age children. Prison officers are sent for preventive recreation in the form of active rest or therapeutic-preventive care at the Corps' treatment and recreational centers, or in the form of home-based rest leave. To maintain and develop physical fitness, prison officers have access to a fully equipped gym. Additionally, tennis and swimming pool passes—funded from the social fund—are available for this purpose. Other benefits, such as meal and transport allowances, birth allowance, and extra pay for work and life anniversaries, are regulated by the agreement on the use of the social fund or by collective agreements for prison officers and employees of Levoča Prison.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Based on mutual cooperation agreements, Levoča Prison has maintained a long-term partnership with České Budějovice Remand Prison, primarily through exchange visits and the sharing of practical experience in various areas of prison management.