Domokos maximum security faclitiy ready in April

With all domestic prisons having relaxed security formulated decades ago, the term “maximum security prison” is only known in Greece from American movies. This is about to change, with the establishment of the first truly maximum security facilities in the Domokos prison.

According to a report in “Kathimerini” news daily, the “type C” Domokos prison will be ready next month and will host convicts for terrorist activities who have spent a decade of their sentence in other prisons, in other words members of the “November 17” terrorist network.

Convicts in Domokos will have no right to furlough, so that events like the Christodoulos Xiros fleeing during furlough can be avoided. Additionally, terrorist convicts will have no right to early release before they complete 20 years of their sentence.

Security measures will be unprecedented for a Greek prison complex, with the use of state of the art digital systems. Apart from terrorism convicts, the prison will also be hosting inmates convicted for high treason, manslaughter, blackmail and robbery while participating in a criminal organization and those considered dangerous for public safety and have been convicted for life or over 10 years.

The bill with these provisions will be introduced to parliament shortly by Justice minister Charalambos Athanasiou and is expected to polarize parliament and draw political bickering between New Democracy conservatives, who traditionally go for higher security and left wing opposition SYRIZA, traditionally against repression measures.