The World of Convicts: Conditions and Irregularities in Penal Institutions in Slovenia between 1945 and 1951

The article presents the system of penal institutions in Slovenia between 1945 and 1951; they were an important part of the repression apparatus through which the authorities dealt with their political opponents.After September 1945, penal institutions were under the aegis of the ministry of internal affairs, within which a special department was established to manage, coordinate and oversee work relating to them.The article presents the conditions in penal institutions and re-education work with convicts.In doing so, it highlights numerous irregularities in the treatment of convicts and shows in detail the results of an inspection of correctional facilities conducted in 1950.A series of events in the early 1950s signalled gradual change in penal policy.