The September 29, 1994 edition of DIÁRIO reported on the imminent opening of the Funchal Prison Establishment in Viveiros, which was preparing to receive its first 150 inmates.
These prisoners, mainly from Madeira and the Azores, were scheduled to arrive on the island in two batches by mid-October, an operation requiring the chartering of two airplanes. At the time, the Director-General of Prison Services, Marques Ferreira, assured that the new prison, with a capacity for around 300 detainees, was ready and aimed to alleviate pressure on mainland prisons.
The new facility represented a significant boost to the national prison system, which housed approximately 9,750 inmates. Marques Ferreira highlighted the accommodation and security conditions, described as "the best possible," and noted the construction of housing for staff nearby.
