Vanaja Prison

Vanaja Prison is an open prison for women located in the countryside of Hämeenlinna, Finland. The Vanaja prison was founded in 1994 and is owned by the Prison and Probation Service of Finland (also named RISE) under the regulation of the Ministry of Justice. Criminal policy in Finland is known for its focus on a welfare society, where well-being, education and employment of the population are seen as key elements of a safe society. To achieve this, their main focus is on the reintegration of people in prison with the use of open detention as a standard for 1⁄3 of the people in detention.

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SMALL-SCALE

Vanaja Prison can accommodate up to 57 people and it looks like a small village. The residents live in different apartment houses, of which one of them is a family house, and one main house spread out over the vast ground of the facility. Each apartment house consists of four to five bed rooms, a shared kitchen, a shared bathroom, a shared living room and a laundry area. Among those apartment houses, one is dedicated to families. The family house offers specific services, such as a shared family living room, a private relaxation area for breastfeeding, for example. The design of this apartment is more oriented to children.

SMALL-scale

Vanaja Prison can accommodate up to 57 people and it looks like a small village. The residents live in different apartment houses, of which one of them is a family house, and one main house spread out over the vast ground of the facility. Each apartment house consists of four to five bed rooms, a shared kitchen, a shared bathroom, a shared living room and a laundry area. Among those apartment houses, one is dedicated to families. The family house offers specific services, such as a shared family living room, a private relaxation area for breastfeeding, for example. The design of this apartment is more oriented to children.

about

Vanaja Prison can accommodate up to 57 people and it looks like a small village. The residents live in different apartment houses, of which one of them is a family house, and one main house spread out over the vast ground of the facility. Each apartment house consists of four to five bed rooms, a shared kitchen, a shared bathroom, a shared living room and a laundry area. Among those apartment houses, one is dedicated to families. The family house offers specific services, such as a shared family living room, a private relaxation area for breastfeeding, for example. The design of this apartment is more oriented to children.

Vanaja Prison is a:

Open detention facility

for:

57 PEOPLE,
Mixed-gender

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated

Vanaja Prison is a:

Open detention facility

for:

57 PEOPLE,
Mixed-gender

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated

Vanaja Prison is a:

Open detention facility

for:

57 PEOPLE,
Mixed-gender

Indicated principles:

Community-integrated, Differentiated

DIFFERENTIATION

Vanaja Prison houses mainly adult women, regardless of the stage of their sentence. Whether lifelong sentences or minor offenses leading to shorter detention periods, all women are welcome here. The Vanaja prison is known for its family house, which provides housing for mothers or fathers and their babies up to the age of three.

Because Vanaja Prison is an open detention facility, most of the daily activities take place outside the facility. Residents are in charge of their own schedule. However, there is a general schedule that indicates the daily programme, such as when residents are expected to do grocery shopping, when visits are allowed and in between which hours they are allowed to leave the facility. The residents are obligated to work during the day.

COMMUNITY-INTEGRATION

Although the facility is located outside the community, interaction takes place between the residents and the community. On the one hand, Vanaja Prison makes use of general services from the community, such as the medical center, hospital, public library, education… In addition, the residents go to the local supermarket and mostly work outside the Vanaja Prison. On the other hand, the facility provides services to the community like gardening. Sometimes they organize an open day in the summertime. This event is quite popular in the community.

Differentiation

Vanaja Prison houses mainly adult women, regardless of the stage of their sentence. Whether lifelong sentences or minor offenses leading to shorter detention periods, all women are welcome here. The Vanaja prison is known for its family house, which provides housing for mothers or fathers and their babies up to the age of three.

Because Vanaja Prison is an open detention facility, most of the daily activities take place outside the facility. Residents are in charge of their own schedule. However, there is a general schedule that indicates the daily programme, such as when residents are expected to do grocery shopping, when visits are allowed and in between which hours they are allowed to leave the facility. The residents are obligated to work during the day.

Community-integration

Although the facility is located outside the community, interaction takes place between the residents and the community. On the one hand, Vanaja Prison makes use of general services from the community, such as the medical center, hospital, public library, education… In addition, the residents go to the local supermarket and mostly work outside the Vanaja Prison. On the other hand, the facility provides services to the community like gardening. Sometimes they organize an open day in the summertime. This event is quite popular in the community.

Visited during the wish-eu project

Although the facility is located outside the community, interaction takes place between the residents and the community. On the one hand, Vanaja Prison makes use of general services from the community, such as the medical center, hospital, public library, education… In addition, the residents go to the local supermarket and mostly work outside the Vanaja Prison. On the other hand, the facility provides services to the community like gardening. Sometimes they organize an open day in the summertime. This event is quite popular in the community.
more information

the Prison and Probation Service of Finland (RISE)

Vanaja Prison

Report Vanaja Prison

English report

Visited by FARAPEJ (01-11-2022)

RESCALED

the Prison and Probation Service of Finland (RISE)

Vanaja Prison

Report Vanaja Prison

Report

Visit

Visited by FARAPEJ (01-11-2022)

WISH-EU

the Prison and Probation Service of Finland (RISE)

Vanaja Prison

Report Vanaja Prison

Report

Visited by FARAPEJ (01-11-2022)

RESCALED

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"Shaping the future, a 1000 originals”

#1000detentionhouses 

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