The prison was designed by architect Kalle Rõõmus, EstKONSULT and constructed by Skanska EMV.

The prison was founded in 2000 with the first inmates arriving on 16 October 2002.

Construction began after Parliament approved a €13,500,000 loan from Nordic Investment Bank.

That same year the prison received an award from the World Health Organization for its HIV-themed project.

The prison holds several war criminals including Dragomir Milošević, Milan Martić and Milan Lukić.