History

Lithuanian Prison Service was established on 11 February 1919.

During the period of Soviet occupation, the penal enforcement system of Lithuania operated as an integral component of the Soviet Union’s broader penal enforcement apparatus, falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior. Known as the Prison Department, it underwent successive renaming, evolving into the Board of Corrective Labour Institutions and later the Board of Correctional Affairs.

Upon the restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990, the Board of Correctional Affairs was restructured into the Department of Correctional Affairs. Subsequently, as part of a broader legal system reform in 2000, the penal enforcement system transitioned from the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry of Justice. This restructuring saw the Department of Correctional Affairs reclaiming its pre-Soviet title, becoming the Prison Department under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania.

Noteworthy individuals have led the institution throughout its evolution. From 1990 to 2001 Mr Jonas Blaževicius served as its head. Successive leaders include Mr. Skirmantas Agurkis, Mr. Rimvidas Kūgis, Mr. Saulius Vitkūnas, Mr. Kęstutis Širvaitis, Mr. Artūras Norkevičius, Ms. Živilė Mikėnaitė, and Mr. Robertas Krikštaponis.

On 1 January 2023, as part of an ongoing organizational reform initiated in 2022, the structure and name of the institution were revised, culminating in its current designation as Lithuanian Prison Service.

Mr. Virginijus Kulikauskas, who diligently served as the Director General of Lithuanian Prison Service, concluded his tenure in May 2024, having contributed five years of dedicated service.

Mr. Mindaugas Kairys now assumes the role of Director General of Lithuanian Prison Service.