In the annals of Dusseldorf’s history, the JVA Düsseldorf casts a long shadow. It stands as a testament to changing times and the evolution of justice. The JVA Düsseldorf wasn’t always housed in a modern facility in Ratingen. For over a century, it occupied a prominent site in the Derendorf district, known colloquially as the “Ulmer Höhe” after its address at Ulmenstraße 95. The prison’s story begins amidst a Prussian prison construction boom in the late 19th century. Designed by Emil Hasenjäger, the JVA Düsseldorf emerged as a formidable structure completed in 1893. This new institution replaced the outdated city jail on Akademiestraße. One of its earliest sections, completed in 1891, was the “Weiberhaus,” initially intended to house female inmates.
This building later transformed into a detention center for young male offenders, reflecting the changing needs of the penal system. The prison even boasted its own hospital. Initially designed for 12 inmates, it underwent expansion in the late 1920s to accommodate 40 patients. The JVA Düsseldorf continued to treat inmates until 1986 when North Rhine-Westphalia opened its first dedicated prison hospital in Fröndenberg.
The year 2012 marked the end of an era. After 119 years at the “Ulmer Höhe,” the JVA Düsseldorf relocated to a state-of-the-art facility in Ratingen. The old buildings were largely demolished to make way for new developments. Only the chapel remains, slated for renovation. Today, the JVA Düsseldorf stands as a modern correctional facility. It represents a shift in perspective towards rehabilitation and reintegration. While the physical presence of the “Ulmer Höhe” may be gone, its legacy continues to resonate in the city’s collective memory.