Information in English

11.10.2009 17:20

ADDRESS:
Vězeňská služba ČR - Prison Service of the Czech Republic
Věznice Heřmanice - Heřmanice Prison
Orlovská 670/35
P. O. BOX 2
713 02 OSTRAVA
Czech Republic

phone: +420 595 220 111
fax: +420 595 220 289

Heřmanice Prison is located around five kilometres from Ostrava town centre, the administrative and economic centre of the Moravian-Silesian region. Originally a labour camp, it was built in 1959 to meet the demand for mine workers. It achieved its current form following major reconstruction in the 1970s. It is profiled as a secure unit for the serving of terms of imprisonment, and also includes a controlled unit. There is also a specialised unit for mentally retarded inmates, a unit for courtordered treatment for alcoholism and a drugs-free zone. There has, for many years, been a leaving unit in place for prisoners kept under a secure regimen, whilst the leaving unit for prisoners kept under a controlled regimen was set up in 2004. Around 930 inmates are accommodated in the prison, which has a total official capacity of 681. Inmates are accommodated in dormitories containing four to seven beds. Around 72 prisoners are accommodated in rooms with common social and cultural facilities.

Prisoners who are fit for work are employed internally by the prison, manufacturing metal items for use by the Czech Prison Service. Prisoners dismantle and sort waste metal in the prison's economic activity centre and for two private firms in rented premises in the manufacturing area. Professional qualifications can be gained by inmates in fields including welding, forklift truck driving, crane operation and load binding. General education courses include competency development courses in information and communication technology, social minimum courses, conversation courses and foreign language classes. Special educational techniques, such as individual intervention and therapy for inmates, socio-legal counselling and discussions with prison chaplains. Group forms of treatment program include: psychotherapy, group counselling, a socio-psychological program and physiotherapy. Prisoners are given the chance to express themselves through participation in sports clubs as well as handicrafts, cultural and breeders' groups and attendance of cultural and sporting events. The prison co-operates with the Educational and Information Centre of the Moravian-Silesian Region, which distributes methodological aids and toys manufactured by prisoners to educational and social organisations in the area.

The prison has a total of 299 employees, of whom 173 are Prison Services members and 126 are civilian employees. Due to the demanding nature of their work, employees have at thein disposal a range of possibilities to make active use of their free time, including the 'Na Věchýtku' social facilities, tennis and volleyball courts, a sauna, a fitness room, indoor swimming-pool and a gym. There is also considerable interest in excursions within the Czech Republic and abroad. The prison also has co-operation agreements in place with the prison in Jastrzębie Zdrój (Poland), the Institute for Enforcement of Imprisonment in Dubnica nad Váhom (Slovakia) and the Vác Strict and Medium Regime Prison (Hungary).