“Did you ever wonder what happens to U.S. Army soldiers who break the law in Europe?” I ask you. Right here, behind these walls, stands the United States Army Corrections Facility-Europe. It is also known as USARCF-E. This facility plays a crucial role in the U.S. military justice system. It is the only Department of Defense, Level 1 corrections facility in the European and African theaters.
Let’s step back in time to understand the history of this unique place. Before this facility was built here in Sembach, the Army ran a confinement mission out of Mannheim Castle after World War II. In 1963, a corrections facility opened at Coleman Barracks in Mannheim. As part of a realignment of U.S. forces, everything in Mannheim was to close. A replacement facility was planned in Sembach.
In late July 2014, the US Army Regional Correctional Facility-Europe was completed. However, it was not fully outfitted until later that fall. This allowed time to relocate personnel, prisoners, and other assets. The old jail in Mannheim was the only active element left at U.S. Army Garrison Mannheim.
The USACF-E falls under the 18th Military Police Brigade. It reports directly to the United States Army Corrections Command in Alexandria, Virginia. Its mission is to provide level 1 pre-trial and post-trial correctional services. It also conducts prisoner transfers to correctional facilities in the United States. On order, it provides advisory teams in support of full spectrum operations.
The staff here consists primarily of Army soldiers assigned to the 18th Military Police Brigade. They are joined by members of the Air Force and Navy. These members serve as liaisons for their respective service personnel who are incarcerated. They also assist in the daily operations. Department of Army civilians and local national employees round out the staff.
A group of 22 people from the prison and the German police Mannheim visited the U.S. Army Regional Correctional Facility-Europe on Coleman Barracks. They came to say farewell to a close friend. The corrections facility closed by the end of the year and relocated to Sembach.
For more than 40 years, the prison in Mannheim and the Army’s corrections facility shared a close friendship. They organized tours, joint sport events, and barbecues. The corrections facility’s main purpose is to secure pretrial and short-term prisoners, typically serving less than a year.
The new facility at Sembach can house up to 40 individuals. It has separate quarters for men and women. The complex includes a security and administration office, a dining facility, and a chapel. It also has showers, storage, reception, visitor areas, training rooms, and a health clinic.
The electronics for the security system are a huge improvement. The closed-circuit TV monitoring system is state of the art. The facility is compact, and the design allows prisoners easy access to staff and treatment programs.
The USACA-E left Coleman Barracks as the last active element of the former U.S. Army Garrison Mannheim. It relocated to the area of the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz.
So, as we stand here, remember that the United States Army Corrections Facility-Europe is more than just a prison. It is a place of justice, transition, and ultimately, a new beginning for those who have lost their way.