History of the Prison

The predecessor and historical form of today’s prison in Žilina was the so-called Žilina prison operated in the premises of the Salesian order, located in a church-owned building that was returned to the order in 1989 through restitution. The prison began operating in 1950, following the nationwide dissolution of religious orders, when the Salesians were forcibly evicted from their residence, and the first prison in Žilina was officially established there. It served several surrounding districts and had a capacity of 90–100 prisoners. Prison service was carried out by 60 prison officers at the time. Its operation ceased in 1960, when the Žilina region was abolished during administrative reform, and remand detention was transferred from Žilina to Ilava.

However, by the late 1960s, efforts to re-establish a remand prison in Žilina intensified. These efforts culminated on 1 January 1971 with the establishment of the institution in the former girls' dormitory of the secondary medical school. Until the end of 1972, all activities related to staffing and organization were overseen by the Correctional and Educational Institution Ilava. By 1973, the Žilina facility became fully independent, with 62 prison officers in service. Its jurisdiction for remand detention included the northern regions of Slovakia (Kysuce, Liptov, and Orava). In the early years, the institution also housed male prisoners sentenced to the first correctional group, and from 1986 onwards, those classified in the second correctional group.

Until 1990, the facility operated under the unified name: “Unit of the Corps of Correctional Services of the Slovak Socialist Republic for Remand Detention and Imprisonment in Žilina.”

During the 1970s and 1980s, sentenced prisoners were mostly employed in construction, the wood-processing industry, and on the railways. Their labour significantly contributed to the development of the city and surrounding infrastructure, including Žilina Hospital and the Vlčince housing estate, which are still in use today.

In 1987, three important organizational changes took place. On 1 November 1987, a Branch Unit for Local Imprisonment was established in Sučany, with a capacity of 170 male prisoners classified in the second correctional group and managed by the Žilina facility. The second key development was the establishment of an escort transfer centre, relocated from the Ilava correctional institution. This centre was later moved to the juvenile correctional institution in Martin in August 1996. The third change involved the construction of a third floor on the prison building for the purpose of opening a diagnostic centre. The extension was completed in 1989, and on 1 April, the Žilina Diagnostic Centre was launched—the first of its kind within the Slovak prison system.

By decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, effective 1 February 2001, the “Unit of the Corps of Correctional Education in Žilina” was renamed to the Žilina Remand Prison. This designation remained in place until 2015.

From 1990 to mid-2003, the facility was designated for remand detention of men, women, and juveniles from Žilina Region and the district of Považská Bystrica. It also held sentenced prisoners classified in the second correctional group. From June 2003, the prison provided remand detention for the District Courts in Žilina, Čadca, and Považská Bystrica, and for the Regional Court in Žilina. Between June 2003 and January 2010, it also served the District Court in Prievidza.

In 2012, the security level of prisoners serving their sentence in the facility was reclassified from medium to minimum security level, effective 15 September.

On 1 October 2015, the Žilina Remand Prison was reprofiled into the Žilina Remand Prison and Prison, and external work placements were established for sentenced prisoners outside the institution.

The Present

The current form of the institution, located in the very centre of the city, consists of a pedestrian and vehicle entrance and three main buildings arranged in a U-shape: the remand detention building, the prison building, and the administrative building.

At present, the institution provides remand detention for defendants from across the Žilina Region and from the District Court of Považská Bystrica in the Trenčín Region. Within this territorial jurisdiction, the prison’s security department carries out escort operations of remand and sentenced prisoners for court proceedings and consultations with prosecutors. Through the Court Guard section, it ensures order and security in the premises of four courts and four prosecutor’s offices, as well as the undisturbed conduct of proceedings.

The institution also holds prisoners from other regions, if so decided by a law enforcement authority or the court. Sentenced prisoners serving their sentence in this prison are men classified under the minimum security level.

The current total capacity of the institution is 258 persons, of which 170 places are allocated for remand prisoners and 88 for sentenced prisoners.

Remand detention is carried out separately for male and female prisoners in three standard regime units and four mitigated regime units. Seven multipurpose rooms are available for remand prisoners, equipped not only with standard furnishings, but also with a kitchenette and appliances for preparing beverages and simple meals, a washer-dryer, a hot plate, a microwave oven, and a television. Leisure activities include lectures, group discussions, educational and awareness-raising activities, community meetings, reading, watching television, solving crossword puzzles and quizzes, art activities, writing essays on current topics, and more. Outside the cells, musical and cultural activities (such as concerts and performances) and sports activities are also held. Two interest clubs are currently available for remand prisoners: fitness for men and handicrafts for women. Musical activities are supported by the availability of two guitars. Television can be viewed not only in the multipurpose rooms but also in cells using portable battery-operated sets.

Sentenced prisoners serve their sentences in two units: one for working prisoners and one for newly admitted prisoners. Sentenced women are housed in the women’s remand unit. Cultural and educational activities for sentenced prisoners are organized with the active participation of the prisoners’ self-government. The most in-demand educational sessions among prisoners focus on psychology, economics, and prison administration. Case managers regularly organize events such as lectures, discussions, informal meetings, and open forums on topics such as traditional customs, current societal issues, international observances, and general interest subjects.

Group activities also include addiction prevention programmes with members of Alcoholics Anonymous, workshops on violence against women with staff from the NGO Woman in Distress, and other discussions and concerts. A television show, Modré z neba (“Blue from the Sky”), was once filmed at the prison, during which a prisoner’s wish was fulfilled.

Prisoners can engage in four interest clubs: technical skills, aquaristics, fitness, and English language. Three guitars are available for musical activities. Sports activities are typically held in the prison yard, exercise areas, corridors, or the gym. Popular recreational activities among prisoners include card games, dice games, table football, table tennis, chess, checkers, Ludo, roulette, table hockey, billiards, various tournaments, and knowledge quizzes. Prisoners also frequently listen to the radio or watch television according to the programme schedule.

Remand and sentenced prisoners have access to the prison library, which contains more than 1,800 titles of fiction and non-fiction literature from both domestic and international authors.

Education and Employment

Education for remand and sentenced prisoners is provided in cooperation with the Primary and Nursery School at Svätý Gorazd Street No. 1 in Žilina and the United School at J. M. Hurban Street No. 36 in Žilina, with which the prison has formal education agreements. The prison also cooperates with the Private Secondary Vocational School in Bytča (Business School, Economics and Administrative Services in Business), which offers external distance education for adults. In case of interest in study, the tuition is covered by the prisoners themselves. Other educational programmes are implemented as needed.

Social counselling is provided by a social worker, who supports and helps both sentenced and remand prisoners to navigate complex social situations, improve their current conditions, or mitigate their negative social status. The social worker also takes part in preparing sentenced prisoners for their release and reintegration.

The employment of sentenced prisoners is carried out within the internal operation of the prison. A total of 24 prisoners are currently assigned to work. Their tasks include roles essential to the functioning of the facility, such as cleaner, storekeeper, kitchen assistant, cook’s assistant, warehouse worker, tailor, laundry worker, librarian, mason, painter, auto mechanic, handling worker, and others. Employment is a very important aspect of sentence execution, as it helps prisoners acquire and maintain work habits.,

Psychological Services and Religious Services

Psychologists at the institution conduct entry psychological assessments of sentenced prisoners upon admission. Based on these assessments, they recommend core goals, methods, and approaches for treatment, with an emphasis on eliminating negative behavioural patterns. They identify the key personality traits, abilities, attitudes, and behaviours that should be the focus of treatment. Psychologists also participate in the ongoing treatment of both remand and sentenced prisoners through various individual and group activities, including lectures, discussions, socio-psychological training, and relaxation techniques.

Spiritual and pastoral care is provided primarily through religious services, personal conversations, pastoral visits, administration of sacraments and blessings, leading of study groups, distribution of religious literature, and participation in cultural and educational events. Prisoners are guaranteed the right to receive spiritual care from representatives of registered churches. In addition to the prison chaplain, spiritual services are also provided by the Sisters of Mother Teresa and the Sisters of the Order of Saint Vincent. A chapel located in the prison building is used for worship and can transmit services via the prison radio to cells and rooms. Within the facility, prisoners have received sacraments such as baptism, first communion, confirmation, and even marriage.

Healthcare

Healthcare within the institution is provided by a medical unit that offers general medical services to staff and general, dental, dermatological, and psychiatric care to remand and sentenced prisoners during designated clinic hours. The inpatient section for ill remand and sentenced prisoners has a capacity of two beds. Medical personnel also actively participate in addressing drug-related issues within the prison system and engage in educational and awareness-raising activities for incarcerated individuals.

Prison Personnel

The prison has 205 established positions for members of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard, of whom 19.4% are women. In terms of educational attainment, 35.2% of the staff hold a second-level university degree (Master’s), 5.1% hold a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s), and 59.7% have completed full secondary education.

By age, the largest proportion of officers are up to 45 years old (20.4%) and up to 50 years old (18.9%). In terms of length of service, the largest groups are those with up to 5 years (24%) and up to 15 years (23%) of service. The average age of officers is 39, and the average length of service is 12 years.

A total of 19 employees work in the public interest, 73.7% of whom are women.

As part of its personnel care and social policy, the prison organizes various social, cultural, and sports activities in cooperation with the trade union—for example, events for International Women’s Day, Children’s Day, and Prison Service Day. Popular activities throughout the year include bowling, table tennis, and a football tournament for the Governor’s Challenge Cup, as well as the opportunity to rent a gym. Attendance at theatre performances is regularly organized, and new parents or staff celebrating personal milestones are acknowledged and rewarded.

International Cooperation

The institution maintains long-term bilateral cooperation with its partner prison in the Czech Republic—Karviná Prison—based on a Cooperation Agreement. Reciprocal professional visits, typically held once a year, support the mutual exchange of information and experience from the prison environment and foster direct contact between the staff of both institutions.