Gevangenis-Gent

What Gevangenis-Gent does

Gevangenis-Gent is a Belgian government penitentiary institution operating under the Federal Public Service Justice (FOD Justitie) and the Directorate-General of Penitentiary Institutions. Located at Nieuwewandeling 89, 9000 Gent, the facility was commissioned in 1862 and built according to the Ducpétiaux star-shaped architectural model, comprising four wings across three floors organized around a central control center. It serves as a closed-regime arrest house for men from the judicial arrondissement of Ghent and for women from the arrondissements of Ghent, Oudenaarde, and Dendermonde, additionally housing a psychiatric wing for men, with a daily detainee population of approximately 350 against a nominal capacity of 244 (men) and 39–51 (women), implying significant overcrowding.

The prison delivers a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected services: detention accommodation; multiple visit modalities (daily, family, child, undisturbed) plus video visits via Cisco Webex Meetings; prison labor across six workshops employing approximately 220 detainees; education programs; healthcare equivalent to free society (nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, dentists, physiotherapists); psychosocial support; cultural and sports activities; a branch library of Ghent's city library 'De Krook'; and chaplaincy/moral services. Service delivery is supported by approximately 280 internal staff and 80 external counselors, plus an ecosystem of approximately 30 partner organizations (CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, VDAB, CGG Eclips, vocvo, De Rode Antraciet, SMAK, SKI, AA/NA, and others) funded by the Flemish Government, the Province of East Flanders, and the City of Ghent. The institution transitioned from a hierarchical to a team-based organizational model in 1998 and is described as the most successfully renovated of all Ducpétiaux prisons in Belgium.

Gevangenis-Gent operates exclusively on a government-funded, non-commercial basis. There are no published prices, no commercial subscribers, and no equity holders; revenue mechanics consist of public budget allocations from the Federal Public Service Justice, supplemented by minor cash flows from detainee canteen purchases, phone credit, and external prison-labor commissions routed through Cellmade/Regie voor Gevangenisarbeid. Access to detention services is court-mandated rather than commercially acquired, and visitor access is governed by regulated administrative procedures (identity verification, security checks, and now, since September 1, 2025, walk-in on-site registration without reservation).

Name

Gevangenis-Gent

Legal name

Gevangenis Gent

Website

https://gevangenisgent.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1862

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gevangenis-Gent is a Belgian government penitentiary institution in Ghent, operating under the Federal Public Service Justice since 1862 as a closed-regime arrest house for approximately 350 detainees, delivering detention, healthcare, education, prison labor, and rehabilitation services via a 280-person staff and a 30-partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Correctional Services

NAICS

Correctional Institutions (922140), Correctional Institutions (92214)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails) (BPAIAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management) (BPAKANAH), Correctional Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (In-Custody) (BPAKANAG)

Keywords

• Penitentiary services
• Correctional facility
• Detention services
• Prison rehabilitation
• Incarceration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The prison operates as a government institution funded by the Belgian Federal Public Service Justice. No commercial revenue model; operational costs are covered through public budgets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gevangenis-Gent is a Belgian government penitentiary that operates a closed-regime arrest house for men and women, providing secure detention accommodation together with rehabilitation and reintegration services. Its offering spans prison labor in six workshops, education programs, healthcare and psychosocial support, welfare and cultural activities, sports, library services, chaplaincy, and multiple visitation modalities (in-person, video, correspondence). All services are coordinated by approximately 280 internal staff and 80 external counselors from roughly 30 partner organizations.

Product overview

Gevangenis-Gent operates as a detention facility providing comprehensive prison services. The institution offers a unified portfolio of interconnected services including detention accommodation (with separate men's, women's, and psychiatric wings), multiple visit modalities (daily, family, child, and undisturbed visits), video visitation via CISCO Webex, prison labor in 6 workshops, education programs, healthcare and psychosocial support, cultural and sports activities, and library services. All services are coordinated through a team of approximately 280 staff and 80 external counselors to support humane detention and reintegration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Detentie (Prison Accommodation)
• Bezoekdiensten (Visit Services)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 220 detainees employed in 6 workshops, generating work opportunities and contributing to reintegration.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CAW Oost-Vlaanderen (Justitieel Welzijnswerk)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides individual trajectory guidance and supports activities such as info evenings, child visits, partner and family activities, and AA/NA meetings. Organisatieondersteuners are employed within the prison.
• Voluit vzw (Ontgrendeld)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOffers support within the prison to detainees with a (suspected) disability. Works with the detainee and their network on reintegration into society.
• Vlaams Ondersteuningscentrum voor het Volwassenenonderwijs (vocvo)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeploys an education coordinator who, together with basic education and adult education, organizes the educational offering in the prison.
• Centrum voor Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg EclipscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides voluntary psychotherapeutic conversations with detainees facing mental or psychiatric problems. Has expertise in drug prevention, addiction care, forensic care, and suicide prevention.
• De Rode AntracietcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCoordinates the cultural and sports offering and training activities for detainees. Deploys a culture official and a sports official.
• VDABcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSends a VDAB consultant who is present daily in the prison to help and guide detainees in their search for work.
• De Krook (Stadsbibliotheek Gent)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe prison library is a special branch of the Ghent city library 'De Krook'. Managed by a library consultant, the collection includes books, CDs, DVDs, games, comics, magazines, and study materials. Detainees can also borrow books via the online catalog.
• Sport VlaanderensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal service provider for sports activities within the prison.
• Sportwerk VlaanderensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal service provider contributing to the sports offering for detainees.
• CBE Leerpunt Gent-Meetjesland-LeielandsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdult education provider contributing to the educational offerings within the prison.
• CVO KISPsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdult education provider contributing to educational programs in the prison.
• PCVO Het PerspectiefsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdult education provider active within the prison.
• CVO GentsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdult education provider contributing to the prison's educational offerings.
• CVO ISBOsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdult education provider in the prison.
• PRHsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal service provider contributing to the support offerings for detainees.
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelf-help group meetings organized within the prison for detainees struggling with addiction.
• Anonieme Alcoholisten (AA)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelf-help group meetings for detainees dealing with alcohol addiction.
• SMAKsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal provider contributing to the cultural activities within the prison.
• Secundair Kunstinstituut (SKI)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal educational institution contributing to cultural programs in the prison.
• Lus vzwsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal organization contributing to support services for detainees.
• VormingplussupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal training and formation provider active in the prison.
• KVLVsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal organization contributing to the support services for detainees.
• ModeratorsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal service provider contributing to the prison's offerings.
• VCOKsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal organization contributing to the support services within the prison.
• Tele-onthaalsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides listening and support services accessible to detainees.
• Federale Overheidsdienst JustitiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe parent government department overseeing all Belgian prisons through the Directorate-General Penitentiary Institutions. Sets policy guidelines and operational standards for the prison.
• Vlaamse Overheid (Departement Welzijn, Volksgezondheid en Gezin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Flemish Government is responsible for organizing welfare, healthcare, and related services for detainees. It recognizes, subsidizes, and stimulates organizations to deliver these services within prison walls.
• Regie voor Gevangenisarbeid (Cellmade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Regie manages prison labor across Belgian prisons. In Gent, it coordinates work in 6 workshops where approximately 220 detainees perform tasks for external companies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• G4S / Allied Universal: Global security and facility services company (formerly G4S, now part of Allied Universal) that provides offender transport, custody services, and correctional facility management in multiple countries. Related through detention services delivery, though broader in scope than prison operations alone.
• Regie voor Gevangenisarbeid (Cellmade): Belgian federal agency that coordinates prison labor across all Belgian prisons, including the 6 workshops at Gevangenis-Gent employing ~220 detainees. A peer/partner relationship — operates the same prison labor business model across the Belgian system, providing structural context for Gevangenis-Gent's workshop operations.

Broad incumbents

• CoreCivic: Major US private corrections and detention operator providing secure prison facilities, community corrections, and rehabilitation programming under government contracts. Comparable in core service model (government-funded incarceration, rehabilitation, education, work programs) though for-profit and far larger scale than Gevangenis-Gent.
• Serco Group: UK-headquartered public services company that operates prisons and detention services (including electronic monitoring) on government contracts across the UK, Australia, and other markets. Comparable in detention operations, rehabilitative services, and government-contract business model.
• Her Majesty's Prison Service (UK): UK national prison operator running ~120 prisons under the Ministry of Justice. Comparable as a public-sector prison operator with similar mandate (secure custody, rehabilitation, education, healthcare, work programs), though operating at vastly greater scale across a national footprint.
• GEO Group: Largest US private prison operator, running secure detention facilities, rehabilitation, and community reentry services. Operates at much larger scale and on a for-profit basis, but comparable in core activity — incarceration, rehabilitation programming, and government contracting for detention services.

Direct peers

• Penitentiaire Inrichting Hasselt: Another Belgian government penitentiary institution operating under the same FOD Justitie parent. Comparable in mandate (arrest house for its arrondissements), inmate population scale, and service mix — making it a closely matched Belgian peer for benchmarking operations and programming outcomes.
• Penitentiaire Inrichting Brugge: Belgian government prison sharing the same federal oversight, same arrest-house role for its judicial arrondissement, and same heritage architecture lineage. A natural peer for program delivery, capacity benchmarking, and labor relations comparisons.
• Penitentiaire Inrichting Antwerpen: Belgian government prison under the same Federal Public Service Justice / Directorate-General Penitentiary Institutions. Most direct comparable — same parent organization, same Ducpétiaux-era heritage architecture, same arrest-house function serving a Belgian judicial arrondissement, same programming portfolio (healthcare, education, work programs).

Emerging players

• Sodexo Justice Services: Division of Sodexo delivering rehabilitation, education, and facility services inside correctional institutions under government contracts. Comparable in operating inside prisons and providing rehabilitation/detainee support services, though not the institution operator itself.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gevangenis-gent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gevangenis-Gent