Enner Mark Prison


Enner Mark Prison (Danish: Enner Mark Fængsel), until February 2016 the State Prison of East Jutland (Danish: Statsfængslet Østjylland),[1] is a modern and purpose-built closed prison in Denmark. It is the first since the establishment of the State Prison in Ringe in 1976. The prison replaced the 150-year-old and run-down Horsens State Prison and was opened on 2 October 2006 by the then Minister of Justice Lene Espersen. The prison is located at Enner Mark near the village of Lund, 10 kilometers west of Horsens, East Jutland.[2]

Enner Mark Prison
Locationnear Lund, East Jutland
Coordinates55°54′24″N 9°42′39″E
Statusopen
Security classmaximum security
Capacity228 inmates
OpenedOctober 2, 2006 (2006-10-02)
Former nameState Prison of East Jutland
Managed byDanish Prison and Probation Service
(Danish: Kriminalforsorgen)
GovernorAnette Bækgaard Jakobsen
Street addressFrodesdalsvej 38
Postal code700 Horsens
CountryDenmark
Websitekriminalforsorgen.dk
Notable prisoners
Marcel Lychau Hansen (The Amager Man)
Hammad Khürshid
Abdoulghani Tokhi
Jørgen "Fehår" Nielsen (former)
Elisabeth Wæver (former)

Together with Storstrøm Prison, the prison is considered Denmark's most secure and is often considered one of the most secure in the Nordic countries.[3] A key feature is the division of the prison into five independent and isolated parts within a 6 meter high, 1400 meter long prison wall.[4] The division is designed to improve security and give better quality of life for inmates under the serving of a sentence. Physically separating more vulnerable inmates is intended to help prevent violence and exploitative relationships between the prisoners.[5]

The prison has capacity for 228 inmates in total, divided between the separate parts, who are mostly from Funen and Jutland. There are subsections for social interaction, the serving of short prison sentences or remand, psychological help, drugs rehabilitation (in the so-called 'contract divisions', (Danish: kontraktafsnit), where prisoners can self-refer and agree to especially strict drug controls), and medical facilities. Additionally there are special facilities for inmates serving gang-related sentences, particularly problematic prisoners, and isolation. Since 1 January 2014, there has also been a section for inmates awaiting extradition.

Since 2017, the governor is Anette Bækgaard Jakobsen.[6]

Background
The old Horsens State Prison, which was replaced by the State Prison of East Jutland.

In 1998, a working group under the Danish Prison and Probation Service (Danish: Kriminalforsorgen) carried out a joint country-wide investigation with the now-defunct Danish Defence Construction Service (danish: Forsvarets Bygningstjeneste). This included a detailed analysis and evaluation of the Prison and Probation Service's buildings, with comments on the extent of the need for renovation, rebuilding, and new construction. A large number of the buildings were declared run-down and unsuitable by modern standards. The audit concluded that in order to provide correctional facilities meeting modern Danish requirements for prisoner rehabilitation and employment opportunities during incarceration, all closed prisons (with the exception of the State Prison in Ringe) should be replaced completely within 25 years.[7]

The first steps towards fulfilling the recommendation were taken later that year in the 1998 state budget and subsequently in the Prison and Probation Service's operational agreement for the period 1999 to 2003. It was decided that Horsens State Prison would be the first to be replaced.

In 1999, a working group under the Prison and Probation Service was established to give a specification for the new prison's construction consistent with the modern function and security requirements established by the 1998 audit. This involved trips to Canada, Sweden, Norway, Holland and Poland to research recent prison modernisation. This group then become the project managers for the actual realisation of the prison, which was internally named State Prison of East Jutland.

In June 2001, the working group delivered their report with specifications for the State Prison of East Jutland. The report gave best-practice recommendations for the prison and commented on how the relevant legal requirements would be met. This report formed the basis of the working group's further activity which first consisted of the establishment of several subsidiary working groups with representatives from the old Horsens State Prison and trade groups. This led to further recommendations regarding for example security, employment facilities for inmates, prison employee facilities, and cell design.

Construction

Later in June 2001, the working group delivered a finished construction plan and tendered for the building of the prison to firms in the European Union. Tendering finished in December 2001 and the contract was won by the Aarhus-based architects Friis & Moltke.[8] Construction began in March 2003 with the installation of utilities and the raising of the main concrete prison wall. The first ground was broken on 19 March 2003 by the then Minister of Justice Lene Espersen who at the same event publicly announced the name State Prison of East Jutland.[9]

In Autumn 2003, an 48-inmate capacity increase was authorised, to give a total capacity of 228 inmates distributed amongst 4 standard sections and one especially secure section. Construction of the prison buildings began in August 2004 and was completed by Summer 2006. The prison was officially opened on 2 October 2006 and received its first inmates shortly after on 16 October 2006. Construction costs totaled 403 million DKK.[10]

Including the outer security zone, the prison occupies a total area of 65 hectares. In 2008, it was awarded the Horsens Municipality architecture prize.[4]

Operation

Enner Mark Prison has five separate sections. Three are identical, with capacity for 48 inmates each. The fourth is for remanded prisoners and those serving short sentences. The fifth section is for solitary confinement and particularly problematic prisoners (often those with connections to Danish motorcycle gangs) and also houses medical facilities. Other facilities include social areas with attached bathrooms and toilets, a cultural centre with attached church, a mosque, a sports hall, a supermarket, a gym, and special visiting areas.[11]

The prison is characterised by very modern security. Key use is almost zero with the vast majority of doors using biometric fingerprint locks. All outside areas are under video surveillance and motion sensors/infrared cameras are installed throughout the complex. The site has over 300 CCTV cameras.[4]

Approximately 300 staff are employed by the prison. The first governor was Jørgen Bang. Following Bang's sudden death in June 2014, Niels Kløve Larsen became the governor in January 2015. Larsen stood down in September 2016, having been on long-term sick leave since May 2016.[12] Anette Bækgaard Jakobsen became the incumbent governor in 2017.[6]

Day-to-day experience and employment

The prison has a range of employment opportunities for inmates. A full-time 37-hour work week is standard with options including fabric, metal, furniture, and envelope workshops, gardening/landscaping, cleaning, and further manufacturing assembly tasks. Inmates are required to pursue employment.

In addition to normal higher education, adult education schemes to improve literacy and numeracy are offered. Treatment programs for alcohol and substance abuse are also available.

Violence and escapes
  • On 12 October 2009, a 36-year-old inmate attempted to strangle a guard. The inmate was in an observation cell awaiting an escort to the toilet - he produced a noose and was stopped with the assistance of further guards. The man was later charged with attempted murder.[13]
  • On 18 September 2011, in connection with unrest in the prison's C1 section, Abdoulghani Tokhi (imprisoned on terrorism charges) stabbed a fellow inmate in the arm with a potato peeler blade.[14]
  • On 20 February 2012, a 27-year-old inmate was stabbed in the skull by a fellow 29-year-old inmate.[15]
  • On 13 July 2012, during an 8-year sentence for attempted murder, the gang leader Mohammed Figuigui (also known as "The Painter") made a successful escape attempt. He impersonated another inmate taking an authorised, unsupervised excursion.[16] Figuigui was later recaptured on 7 December 2013.
  • In 2017, prison guards reported significant problems with violence and threats towards staff in the section for gang-related inmates.[3]

Notable inmates

Current inmates
Name Status Details
Marcel Lychau Hansen (The Amager Man) Serving a life sentence in the maximum security wing.[17] Sentenced to life imprisonment at Copenhagen City Court on 22 December 2011 for aggravated murder, lust murder and six counts of rape.
Hammad Khürshid Serving a 12-year prison sentence. Sentenced to 12 years in prison at Frederiksberg Courthouse on 21 October 2008 for his role in the so-called Glasvej terror plot.
Abdoulghani Tokhi Serving a 9-year prison sentence.[14] Sentenced to 7 years in prison at Frederiksberg Courthouse on 21 October 2008 for his role in the so-called Glasvej terror plot. Following an appeal at the high court the sentence was increased to 8 years, and in 2011 a further 1 years' imprisonment was added for knife crime.

Former inmates
Navn Status Detaljer
Jørgen "Fehår" Nielsen Released on probation on 27 June 2013 after 17 years' imprisonment.[18] Sentenced to 16 years in prison in 1997, which the year after was increased to life imprisonment for murder and attempted murder during the Great Nordic Biker War.
Elisabeth Wæver Served 11 years at Herstedvester Prison, after which she was transferred to the then State Prison of East Jutland. She was released on probation in 2010.[19] Sentenced to life imprisonment on 23 October 1996 for arson and the murder of her lover's wife and sons.

References
  1. Svith Skou-Hansen, Peter (28 February 2016). "Statsfængslet Østjylland får nyt navn" [The State Prison of East Jutland gets new name] (in Danish). TV 2/Østjylland.
  2. "Nyt statsfængsel 12 km. fra Horsens" [New state prison 12 kilometers from Horsens] (in Danish). Politiken. 27 April 2001.
  3. "Fængselsbetjente forudser bande-lig i gangene" [Prison guards predict gang bodies in the corridors] (in Danish). TV 2/Østjylland. 17 August 2017.
  4. "Enner Mark Fængsel" [Enner Mark Prison]. Kriminalforsorgen (in Danish).
  5. "Grundfos inden for murene" [Grundfos inside the walls] (in Danish). Dagens Byggeri. 28 September 2007.
  6. Malling-Jensen, Erik (2017). "Fra socialdirektør til fængselschef" [From welfare director to prison chief] (in Danish) (03/2017). Danske Kommuner. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  7. Finansudvalget (2011). Beretning om Kriminalforsorgens vedligeholdelse af bygninger [Communication regarding the Danish Prison and Probation Service's maintenance of buildings] (PDF) (Report) (in Danish). Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  8. "Statsfængslet Østjylland, Horsens" [State Prison of East Jutland]. Friis & Moltke (in Danish).
  9. "Spadestik til nyt fængsel i Horsens" [First ground broken for new prison in Horsens] (in Danish). BT. 19 May 2003.
  10. Askvig, Brian (11 December 2001). "Celle til 2,2 mio. kr" [Cell for 2.2 million DKK] (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet.
  11. Folketingets Ombudsmand (26 March 2009). Inspektion af Statsfængslet Østjylland den 9. og 10. oktober 2007 [Inspection of the State Prison of East Jutland on the 9th and 10th of October 2007] (PDF) (Report) (in Danish). Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  12. Avnesø, Birgitte (23 September 2016). "Måneders uvished er forbi: Fængslet skal have ny chef" [Months of uncertainty over: Prison to get new chief] (in Danish). Horsens Folkeblad.
  13. Gøttler, Karsten (12 October 2009). "Forsøgte at strangulere fængselsbetjent" [Attempted to strangle prison guard] (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet.
  14. Avnesø, Birgitte (2 June 2012). "Knivstikkende terrorist får intet ud af anke" [Knife-wielding terrorist gets nothing from appeal] (in Danish). Horsens Folkeblad.
  15. Rohde-Brøndum, Jakob (21 February 2012). "Indsat forsøgt dræbt i Statsfængslet Østjylland" [Attempted murder of inmate at State Prison of East Jutland] (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet.
  16. Søgaard, Jan (14 July 2012). "Bandechef bluffede sig ud af fængslet" [Gang leader bluffs his way out of prison] (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet.
  17. Pinborg, Niels; Borup Sørensen, Anders (24 July 2012). "Tvangsflyttet: Frygter Amagermanden vil flygte" [Forced transfer: fears that The Amager Man will escape] (in Danish). Ekstra Bladet.
  18. Jørgensen, Uffe (13 June 2013). "Efter 17 år i fængsel: Kendt HA-rocker løslades" [After 17 years in prison: notorious Hell's Angels gang member released] (in Danish). BT.
  19. Christine Madsen, Maria (11 March 2012). "Dødslægen slap med 14 år" [Killer doctor let off with 14 years] (in Danish). BT.

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