The facility opened its doors on July 31, 2001. Its launch involved the transfer of inmates and staff from the prisons in Zaragoza and Huesca and marked the beginning of a new phase shaped by the facility’s model.
TRIBUTE TO ITS FIRST DIRECTOR
One of the central moments of the ceremony was the tribute to Andrés Gonzalo Díez, who died in February 2020, for his role in launching Zuera Prison. Throughout his career in Spain’s prison service, he held various positions of responsibility, including head of the facility, head of services, deputy director of security and management, and director of several facilities, as well as serving as a services inspector.
Gonzalo was also the first prison service official to join the National Counter-Terrorism Coordination Center (CNCA), where he helped highlight the value of information available from prisons regarding terrorism.
During the ceremony, speakers highlighted his leadership, professional dedication and personal qualities, as well as his contribution to establishing a working dynamic that enabled Zaragoza Prison to become a benchmark within the prison system.
