Justizvollzugsanstalt Münster, Correctional facility in Münster, Germany.
Justizvollzugsanstalt Münster is a correctional facility in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, with a distinctive star-shaped layout. A central church building with a notable tower sits at the heart of the complex, serving as its architectural focal point.
The facility was established in 1851 to replace the former Münster Zwinger fortification. It represents an early adoption of English prison design principles in Germany, making it among the country's oldest institutions of its kind.
The prison library, renovated in 2005, received the Library of the Year award in 2007 with frequent use by eighty percent of inmates.
The complex can be viewed from outside to appreciate its architectural design and historic tower. Visitors should note that interior access is restricted, but the exterior layout and structures are visible from the surrounding streets.
The design follows English Neo-Gothic principles and was modeled after London's Pentonville Prison under architect Carl Ferdinand Busse. This brought an international prison design standard to Westphalia in the 19th century.
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