Gefängnis Zürich

Gefängnis Zürich, located in the heart of Zürich, Switzerland, is the largest district jail in the Canton of Zürich, with a capacity of 170 prisoners. Opened in 1916, it has undergone several expansions, the latest in 1991. The prison is notable for housing high-profile inmates, including Vitaly Kaloyev, who served time for a tragic incident involving an air traffic controller, and filmmaker Roman Polanski, who was held pending extradition. The facility has faced controversies, including a tragic suicide of a young inmate in 2008. For those interested in criminal justice or the history of incarceration in Switzerland, Gefängnis Zürich offers a unique glimpse into the complexities of the penal system.