On April 22 British Embassy Budapest organized the First Prison Radio Conference, showcasing the work of prison radios and non-governmental organizations operating in Hungarian correctional institutions. At the conference British creators of the first prison radio talked about their achievements in the past ten years, governors of Hungarian institutions talked about their local radios, and representatives of Adj Hangot Association and former prisoner radio hosts also spoke.
The 2016 Prison Service’s National Cross Country Running Championship had 291 participants. Prison Service Training and Conference Center and Márianosztra Strict and Medium Regime Prison organized two races, a 2 km and a 10 km one, for participants from 34 Prison Service institutions. Last year’s winner, the Pálhalma National Prison team, won again.
KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Ltd finished the construction of a new welding hall for Nagyfa-Alföld Ltd on April 13, 2016. In the factory ten prisoners work on welding metal railings and staircases while twelve prisoners study welding under the supervision of trainers from Szeged Vocational training Center.
An exhibit with the title above, showcasing photography by former prisoners, opened in Budapest on March 31 at the initiative of Adj Hangot Association. The project started back in November 2005, offering eight newly-released prisoners opportunity to show what it is like to be free again. Photographers also participated in the three-month process.
Budapest Strict and Medium Regime Prison spent HUF 333 million on refurbishing its kitchen. At the opening ceremony on March 22, 2016, Lt Gen András Csóti, Director General of Hungarian Prison Service announced that now, with the exception of the two PPP institutions, every Hungarian correctional institution operates its own kitchen.
Between March 1 and 4 a three-member delegation from Kosovo Prison Service visited Hungary, lead by acting Director General Sokol Zogaj.
On February 27, 2016 theatregoers were offered a unique experience at Pinceszínház. A special night of theater offered two perspectives on the same situation: the first one, titled But I Was a Good Mother ("Pedig jó anya voltam"), starring Judit Pogány, talked about the experience of a mother whose son is on the death row. The second one, titled Deaf Death, or Checkmate to Life ("Süket halál, avagy matt az életnek"), was performed by prisoners from Tököl Juvenile Prison and depicted the final days of Henrik László Molnár, a prisoner sentenced to death in 1979 in Tököl. The audience of about 150 were all civilian.
The Hungarian Prison Service showed dedication, expertise, discipline, and legal compliance in performing its duties last year - said László Tasnádi, State secretary for Law Enforcement at the Ministry of the Interior, in a meeting to evaluate last year's achievements and this year's challenges at Budapest Remand Prison Venyige Street Unit on 20 January.
The Prison Administration signed a contract in January 2016 to purchase 25 prisoner transport vans.
Christmas is a special time in prisons, too. The Prison Administration pays special attention to involving every institution in the seasonal festivities.