It was situated in an area that was then part of the Sörnäinen district, chosen for its excellent transportation links, access to water, and fertile soil.

[2] The prison staff comprised a director, two supervisors, five guards, an accountant, a foreman, a stoker, a doctor, and a preacher, overseeing predominantly 4-5 time offenders of the penitentiary.

Expansion and enhancement of facilities continued over the years, with the completion of eastern and western day cell blocks in 1915, and ongoing construction to facilitate work and recreational activities from 1931 to 1970.

The prison's current sports and dining facilities were inaugurated in 1998, while staff residential buildings dating back to 1855-1877 were part of the establishment.

By the 1960s, the Helsinki Central Prison housed over 800 inmates, with an array of educational and recreational programs introduced to complement the penal system's rehabilitative objectives.