Icelandic Prison Service
Encyclopedia
The Icelandic Prison Service (Icelandic: Fangelsismálastofnun ríkisins or simply Fangelsismálastofnun) is the national correctional agency of the Republic of Iceland
. Along with the Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Customs Directorate
, and the Icelandic Coast Guard
, the Icelandic Prison Service is one of the few law-enforcement agencies in Iceland. The current director of the Prison Service is Páll Egill Winkel.
The oldest prison in Iceland, Hegningarhúsið
, was completed in 1874 and is still in operation today.
, which is located in downtown Reykjavík
. This roughly corresponds with the country's population centres.
The image displays the former shoulder patch of the Icelandic Prison Service. The present shoulder patch is black with silver lettering and outlining.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. Along with the Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Customs Directorate
Icelandic Customs
The Icelandic Directorate of Customs is the national customs service of the Republic of Iceland...
, and the Icelandic Coast Guard
Icelandic Coast Guard
The Icelandic Coast Guard is the service responsible for Iceland's coastal defense and maritime and aeronautical search and rescue. Origins of the Icelandic Coast Guard can be traced to 1859, when the corvette Ørnen started patrolling Icelandic waters...
, the Icelandic Prison Service is one of the few law-enforcement agencies in Iceland. The current director of the Prison Service is Páll Egill Winkel.
Prisons in Iceland
Presently, the Icelandic Prison Service operates six prisons:- HegningarhúsiðHegningarhúsiðHegningarhúsið is the oldest prison in Iceland, founded in 1874. Its ancient architecture and basic construction make the jail unsuitable for present penal use, as the only place for prisoners to go outside their cells is a small backyard....
(Skólavörðustíg 9, 101 Reykjavík) - Fangelsið Kópavogsbraut 17 (200 Kópavogi)
- Fangelsið Litla-HrauniLitla-HraunLitla-Hraun is the largest prison in Iceland, as well the most notorious one. Located just outside Eyrarbakki, it consists of nine buildings inside a high-security fence....
(820 Eyrarbakka) - Fangelsið Kvíabryggju (350 Grundarfirði)
- Fangelsið Akureyri (Lögreglustöðinni, Þórunnarstræti 138, 600 Akureyri)
- Fangelsið Bitru (801 Selfossi)
The oldest prison in Iceland, Hegningarhúsið
Hegningarhúsið
Hegningarhúsið is the oldest prison in Iceland, founded in 1874. Its ancient architecture and basic construction make the jail unsuitable for present penal use, as the only place for prisoners to go outside their cells is a small backyard....
, was completed in 1874 and is still in operation today.
Distribution of Prisons
Aside from Fangelsið Akureyri, which is in the northern city of Akureyri, prisons in Iceland are all located in the southwest end of the country. This includes the oldest prison, HegningarhúsiðHegningarhúsið
Hegningarhúsið is the oldest prison in Iceland, founded in 1874. Its ancient architecture and basic construction make the jail unsuitable for present penal use, as the only place for prisoners to go outside their cells is a small backyard....
, which is located in downtown Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. This roughly corresponds with the country's population centres.
Uniforms
The present uniform of the Icelandic Prison Service is a light blue shirt with black trousers.The image displays the former shoulder patch of the Icelandic Prison Service. The present shoulder patch is black with silver lettering and outlining.