Wronki Prison, three four-story buildings in a cross formation, was designed to accommodate 750–800 prisoners, accompanied by buildings housing the guards and other auxiliary personnel. It was built in 1889 by the Prussian government of Germany and brought into use in 1894 as the Zentralgefängnis für die Provinz Posen. It was modeled on contemporary American prisons. Prisoners were employed in production of stockings and in other tasks. On 30 December 1918 the prison was taken over by Polish insurgents of the Greater Poland Uprising. The prisoners were set free while the prison became a temporarybarracks for the insurgents. The prison resumed operations in late July 1919 as part of the new prison system of the Second Polish Republic. In interwar Poland the prison was used as a site for political prisoners. During the invasion of Poland, the prisoners were set free. It was then taken over by Nazi Germany, first used as a temporary holding place for prisoners of war and incorporated into the Nazi Germany prison system in Reichsgau Wartheland. Most prisoners at that time were Polish political prisoners; the prison was heavily overpopulated, and prisoners were mistreated. At least 804 people died in the Wronki Prison during German occupation of Poland. In 1945 when the prison was taken over by the Soviet and Polish forces, it was used briefly to hold German prisoners of war and other German prisoners. After the war, from 1945–1955, the prison was attached to the Ministry of Public Security and again used for political prisoners. A notable group of prisoners early on was formed from former soldiers of the Polish Home Army. The prison was still overcrowded, often holding about 3,000 prisoners, and prisoners were again mistreated. About 250 prisoners died during that period, out of over 15,000 imprisoned. In 1958 a metalwork business was added to the prison. Currently, the prison employs 400 personnel. Its official capacity is 1474 inmates; overcrowding is causing concern.
Structure and organization
The prison has an infirmary, a section for mentally ill patients, a chapel, library, sports center and secondary level educational institution. Currently the prison is designed to hold male prisoners serving repeated terms from 3 months to 25 years. Prisoners are employed by the prison, attached metalwork business and other workplaces, as well as for the town and gmina Wronki.
