Location 1 Rue des Augustins Country France Capacity 120 | Postal code BP 60485 Zip code 68020 Opened 1806 | |
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Colmar prison (French: Maison d'Arrêt standard à Colmar) is a prison located in the ancient turist quarter of Colmar, France. Established in the location of a former convent built in 1316, it was originally repurposed as a homeless shelter in 1791. It was used as a military prison from 1806 to 1919, when it obtained official prison status.
It was initially known for its harsh conditions, including 3-inch windows, a yard too small for prisoners to walk in, no toilet, and substandard air and light intake. Claims dating to 2014 concerning harsh conditions were also made by Colmar residents, which are sometimes required to share cells.
It carries a Cour d'Assises within its premises. It predominantly holds defendants without sentencing or prisoners whose remaining sentence does not exceed a year. It counts with a seniors ward, as well as a minimum-security one; it possesses prisoner workshops in the fields of air conditioning installation and wood carving, among others.
January 2013 saw three inmates escape using a table leg and bedsheets. Similar episodes occurred in 2004 and 2009. The building is said to be in an "advanced state of decay" due to its age.