Hegningarhúsið
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Hegningarhúsið (the penalty house) is the oldest prison in Iceland, founded in 1874. Its old architecture is unsuitable for present penal requirements and the only real alternative for prisoners outside their cells is a moderate backyard.
It can house a total of 16 inmates at one time, it is usually used as an entry point into the penal system in Iceland, most inmates get a medical check and an interview before they are sent to another prison where they will serve the remainder of their sentence. Prisoners with extremely short sentences serve them in entirety in the Hegningarhúsið.
