With so many arrests and jail sentences and prosecutors getting busier and busier with corruption and tax evasion cases, we thought a 'tour' of famous Romanian prisons is due. Here are the main prisons in Romania, and what former Romanian VIPs serve time where.

In general, each county has its main prison, so depending on the defendant's official home, they will be sent to the prison which is closest to their home. This is actually a strategy used by people who believe they could be incarcerated, they move official residence so as to be able to 'choose' in what jail they will serve time.

There are however a few jailhouses best known in Romania, most of which hold male prisoners; we also listed a prison for women.

Rahova – near Bucharest

This is a maximum security prison near Bucharest, 8 kilometers from the center of the Romanian capital, taking the road towards the city of Alexandria. The prison has a capacity of 1,685 across 237 cells. The prison also includes clubs for different activities, a medical unit, a gym, two outdoor sports fields, as well as a farm.

In order to visit someone incarcerated at the Rahova prison, one could call +40374205653 or +40374205654 daily from 8 to 17,00, or email viziteprahova@anp.gov.ro anytime, at least 24 hours before the planned visit.

Former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase was imprisoned at Rahova. This prison is used as the first destination for anyone who received a conviction in Bucharest, as they have to go through a 30-day quarantine period before serving their sentence, and before their type of detention is decided.

Former senator Catalin Voicu also served time at the Rahova prison, where he said he shared the cell with former judges, business people, even a former ambassador.

Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam was brought to Rahova prison in Romania to serve jail time for terrorism

Jilava – near Bucharest

The Jilava prison is located in the village of Jilava, near Bucharest, and is built on the premises of a former fort which was used to protect the capital in the late 19th century. The Jilava prison has 1,840 beds. Former Romanian football boss and land owner Gigi Becali, currently serving time in the Poarta Alba prison in Constanta, was initially incarcerated at Jilava.

This is also where former media mogul Sorin Ovidiu Vantu served time.

To visit someone imprisoned at Jilava, call +40374205781, or email vizite.pjilava@anp.gov.ro, at least 24 hours before the planned visit.

Poarta Alba – Constanta county

The Poarta Alba prison, located in the seaside county of Constanta, is the place which hosted inmates who were working at the Danube – Black Sea channel during the communist period.

Land owner Gigi Becali is currently imprisoned at Poarta Alba, and so are his cousins Victor and Ioan Becali, who were recently arrested.

To visit someone at the Poarta Alba prison, call +40374205444, +40374 205881, or email viziteppalba@anp.gov.ro, vizite.ppalba.valu@anp.gov.ro, at least 24 hours before the planned visit.

Aiud – Alba county

The Aiud prison is located in Alba county, and dates back from the 18th century. The prison has a capacity of 1,634 beds in 202 cells. It currently holds 1,000 inmates.

The prison used to be the place where political dissidents were taken during the Communist regime.

In order to visit somebody imprisoned at Aiud, call +40374205684 or email vizitepaiud@anp.gov.ro.

Craiova – Dolj county

This is a maximum security prison which was built in the late 19th century. To visit someone jailed in this prison, call +40251422967 or email vizite.pcraiova@anp.gov.ro.

Iasi - Iasi county

Imprisoned here in this maximum security penitenciary is the former Transport Minister Relu Fenechiu, who shares the cell with his brother Lucian and with businessman Bogdan Damian, according to local media. The jail house holds 1,500 inmates.

To visit someone there, call +40332425866, or email vizite.piasi@anp.gov.ro.

Targsor - Prahova county

This is a prison for female inmates, which currently holds 730 people. To visit an inmate, call +40244380780 or email vizite32@anp.gov.ro.

The full list of prisons in Romania can be found on the Prison Administration website (in Romanian).

editor@romania-insider.com