Information in English
4.1.2011 15:20
Drahonice Prison, located in the land registry area of the village of Drahonice, about three kilometres from the main highway route from Prague to Karlovy Vary, has functioned as a controlled unit for men serving terms of imprisonment since 2002. Its history, however, goes back much further, to the year of 1958, when it was used as a branch of the Sýrovice correctional camp. In May 1972, Drahonice Prison became a part of Nové Sedlo Prison, and in 1992 it became a branch of Oráčov Prison. Since 2002, Drahonice Prison has been a self-contained organisational unit, and it serves for imprisonment of males placed into the „supervision“ category.In May 2006, a special supervised section was established in the prison. The prison has an accommodation capacity of 212 male convicts in rooms with an average capacity of 8-10 beds. The operation and activity of the prison is ensured by its 116 employees, of whom roughly a half are uniformed staff. Basic facilities in the prison include a drug-free zone, a therapy room, a crisis unit dealing with treating acute psychical cases of inmates, and a newly-established pre-release unit, which eases the return of prisoners into the comunity. The convicts are employed in building industry, agriculture, forestry and timber industry, by a waste-removal company, in a plastic windows manufacture, in metal-working industry, in sports grounds development, they do some auxiliary work in automobile service shops, and, last but not least, in communal services within the region including the maintenance and development of public open areas and collection of communal waste. The prison organises therapeutic-educational programmes for inmates as well as, in cooperation with educational authorities in the region, various re-qualification courses. There is a wide variety of treatment programmes within the prison. A sport and a tourist club are amongst the traditional freetime activities, through which prisoners can learn about the region, its historical and natural landmarks. The demanding nature of the prison staff occupation means that it is vital to ensure the staff wellbeing. The staff and their families have the opportunity to enjoy regular traditional cultural and sport activities organized by the prison or they can use the facilities individually. In the prison area, the employees and their families can use the services of the medical centre, allday cafeteria with a choice of meals, a shop, and a sport ground.
