According to the Memorandum of Understanding approved by the government on Tuesday, October 7, with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway for the implementation of the new grant period, 15 million euro will also be allocated to projects of the Ministry of Justice – including the construction of a women’s prison, strengthening the capacity of correctional services, and providing rehabilitation services for children with substance dependencies.
One of Minister of Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere’s priorities is the creation of a new facility for female inmates. Currently, the only women’s prison in Latvia is Iļģuciems Prison, which houses 188 female prisoners, including a Mother and Child Unit where women live with their children up to the age of four. This is also where women acquire parenting and other skills to fully reintegrate into society after serving their sentences.
At present, this infrastructure is critically outdated and insufficient for full sentence execution and rehabilitation. Establishing modern facilities tailored to the needs of female inmates will end the practice of housing women in spaces originally designed for other purposes, which over time were adapted for women but fail to meet their specific needs.
Minister of Justice I. Lībiņa-Egnere emphasizes: “Recognizing that current state budget capacities do not allow us to build a new prison, I am truly pleased that the initiative to create infrastructure suitable for women has been supported under the next period of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. The establishment of a new women’s prison is a key part of the reforms implemented by the Ministry of Justice, allowing us to continue improving the penal system with innovative solutions and an individualized approach to each inmate. Our long-term goal is to strengthen work on promoting positive behavioral change and rehabilitation among inmates, thereby reducing recidivism. I thank all our partners for their contribution, which will make it possible to implement this project and enhance overall public safety.”
Female inmates in Latvia make up only about 5–10% of the total prison population, yet their needs and experiences differ significantly from those of men. Most women entering prison have themselves suffered from violence, lived in adverse conditions, or become victims of addiction and abusive relationships. Their rehabilitation therefore requires a different approach, with particular emphasis on maintaining family ties, education, and social skill development.
Experience from European countries shows that women are significantly less likely than men to reoffend after release when provided with appropriate environments, psychological support, and targeted rehabilitation. A new women’s prison is thus a long-term investment in both public safety and human resources.
The Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with the Prison Administration and local governments, has evaluated potential locations for the women’s prison and decided it will be in Cēsis, where a juvenile correctional facility currently operates. The facility will provide women with the opportunity to rebuild self-esteem, learn to live outside the cycle of violence, and prepare for full reintegration into society. The new women’s prison will ensure humane conditions and safety for both inmates and staff, and will be designed according to modern standards, with an emphasis on rehabilitation, education, and support.
Additional Information:
The EEA and Norway Grants are funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway with the aim of promoting a more equitable Europe socially and economically, and of strengthening cooperation between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and the beneficiary country – Latvia.