From settlement (874 B.C.) until the year 1764, there were no prisons in Iceland. Laws were not written down until 1117, and the most common punishments were financial penalties, or fines. Exile was the harshest punishment, which included banishment from the country, and anyone could kill the criminal without impunity. In cases of homicide, the family of the victim was allowed to avenge their death.

When Iceland became a part of Norway in 1262, blood feuds became illegal, but instead corporal punishments and executions were legalized.

In the year 1734, Iceland started sending criminals to prison in Denmark, but they had to be kept somewhere until there was room on a ship to take them there. It became the magistrates duty to hold them, which was very expensive. Between 1751-1758 there was famine in Iceland, which meant increase in theft. This meant that the magistrates had their hands full, and the expenses increased. They even asked the Danish King for permission to just hang the thieves to save money. This request was of course denied, but it is believed that the magistrates did so anyways in some cases.

Because of this, the Danish King decided to build a prison in Iceland (Tugthúsið), which was finally ready in 1764. Unfortunately, it closed down in 1813 and every prisoner was let go, because of lack of food. Iceland didn't have another prison until 1873, when Hegningarhúsið was built.

Today, Tugthúsið still stands, and serves as Ministry Offices.

More Info: www.icelandicroots.com