Justizvollzugs- und Sicherungsverwahranstalt Diez, Maximum security correctional facility in Diez, Germany.
The Justizvollzugs- und Sicherungsverwahranstalt Diez is a prison and preventive detention facility located in the Freiendiez district of the town of Diez, in Rhineland-Palatinate. The grounds consist of several building wings arranged around a central control area, with a perimeter wall enclosing the entire compound.
The facility's origins go back to 1778, when a first place of detention was set up inside Diez Castle. After construction of a purpose-built prison in Freiendiez, operations moved to the new site in 1912.
The building in Freiendiez is an example of the radial prison layout that became common across Europe in the late 19th century. From the outside, the symmetrical facade and the arrangement of the wings give a clear sense of how the space was designed to allow oversight from a central point.
Since this is an active prison, access to the grounds is not open to the public, and visits are only possible under strictly regulated conditions. Anyone wishing to visit an inmate should contact the facility directly in advance to find out what documents are required.
Diez Castle served as a place of detention for more than 130 years before operations moved to a purpose-built site. This makes it one of the longest-used castle prisons in the region before the building returned to its role as a historical monument.
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