A new prison will open on Hólmsheiði , on the outskirts of Reykjavík, today.
“This is a revolution,” project manager from the prison, Steinunn Valdís Óskarsdóttir, told Vísir today.
For women in particular, the prison is a huge step forward, since eight out of 56 cells will be for women. According to Steinunn, women will be able to serve extended sentences at the prison, which will be the only one for women. As a result of the new prison opening, the ones in Kópavogur and on Skólavörðustígur in Reykjavík have been closed.
“The prison is designed to have men and women in separate quarters,” Steinunn points out. The prison will accept prisoners who are starting to serve their sentence, as well as those who are in police custody.
Before the first prisoners are transferred to Hólmsheiði, staff must test all security systems. The goal is for the prison to be operational in August.
