Built in 1853 the Justizvollzugsanstalt Munster is one of Germany’s oldest prisons. It’s the second oldest in the country. Only the prison in Waldheim is older. This impressive building stands as a testament to history. It’s a protected historical monument.
The Justizvollzugsanstalt Munster wasn’t always this size. Construction began around 1848. The plans were drawn by Prussian architect Carl Ferdinand Busse. He designed the building in the English neo-Gothic style. It replaced the older Munster Zwinger prison. That prison was located just a short distance away. The new prison was built in a star shape. Four wings extend from a central building. This central building included a church and a tower. The prison initially held 456 single cells and 80 dormitory-style rooms.
Over the decades the Justizvollzugsanstalt Munster expanded. A hospital wing was added in 1861. Storage areas and other support buildings followed. Even a psychiatric ward was added in 1893. This demonstrates the prison’s evolving role in society.
The Nazi era brought significant changes. The prison which had capacity for 605 inmates was severely overcrowded holding up to 1100. A criminal biological research facility was set up. Prisoners were studied to determine their value to the state and the race. One wing was controlled by the SS and Gestapo. Executions took place on the grounds. On March 29 1945 Gestapo officers shot 17 Soviet prisoners of war. They buried them in a bomb crater. Allied bombing during World War II destroyed parts of the prison. The church and some wings were severely damaged. The prison was quickly rebuilt after the war.
After the war the Justizvollzugsanstalt Munster continued to adapt. In 1971 a pedagogical center opened. Up to 63 inmates could pursue schooling. In 2005 inmates achieved the first Abitur behind bars in North Rhine-Westphalia. Thirteen places for drug addicts were created in 1975. These inmates received up to 18 months of therapy. This model was unique in North Rhine-Westphalia at that time. A new administration building was finished in 1975.
The prison also cultivated relationships with local universities. This provided opportunities for law students to learn about the justice system. Over 300 employees supported the 550 inmates. A special prisoner library was located at the Justizvollzugsanstalt Munster since 2003. This library was renovated in 2005. It was even awarded the ‘Library of the Year’ award in 2007.
Plans for a new prison emerged around 2010. The old prison was aging. Its structure was deteriorating. The Justizvollzugsanstalt Munster partially closed in 2016. Several older buildings were deemed unsafe. The facility was mostly empty and only the post-war buildings remained in use. Today the facility holds 218 inmates. The future of this historic prison remains uncertain. A new building is planned. It will be much larger and better equipped to house more prisoners. This will mark the end of an era. A new chapter begins for the Justizvollzugsanstalt Munster.