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Carsten Faust has been officially introduced into office as the new head of the Fulda prison. Faust's predecessor, Karsten Koudela, was also bid farewell in the presence of Hesse's Justice Minister Christian Heinz (CDU).
Fulda – Justice Minister Christian Heinz took a look back at the history of the penal system on the occasion of the change in management. “Today we rely heavily on resocialization, and this can be observed particularly well in the small but very successful and very active correctional facility in Fulda.”
Offers like the dad meeting are approaches that show that attempts are being made to maintain the prisoners' strongest interpersonal bonds. “And of course the tasks that the prison system has always had, namely monitoring and securing the population, remain central guidelines for the penal system,” the minister emphasized.
Carsten Faust takes over management of the Fulda JVA from Karsten Koudela
Karsten Koudela was always up to these diverse tasks. “You have been part of the Hessian penal system for more than 30 years. That is a really remarkable time. You have worked for the state and society many times in your life. Among other things, you trained as a reserve officer in the Bundeswehr,” the minister acknowledged.
After Koudela's prison career began in the Kassel JVA in 1993, he returned there on January 1st as deputy prison director. “There was a need there, and you followed this call. For you that also means: back to your North Hesse roots, to your North Hesse homeland. I wish you all the best in your new job.”
At the same time, Heinz congratulated Koudela's successor, Carsten Faust. After graduating from high school, the Frankenberg native began training as an office clerk before joining the Bundeswehr in Rotenburg an der Fulda as a temporary soldier. This was followed by training in the administration of the city of Frankfurt. In 2002 he moved to the Schwalmstadt JVA and in 2003 to the North Administrative Competence Center before moving to the Hünfeld JVA in 2005. In 2008, Faust was seconded to the Fulda JVA for the first time as acting deputy head.
Mayor Wingenfeld welcomes new prison director Faust
This was followed by a transfer to the municipality of Kirchheim as head of the main office in 2012 and another to the JVA Hünfeld in 2016 as head of the correctional department at the JVA Hünfeld. In 2024 he was appointed as a further representative of the head of the Hünfeld JVA. Since January 1, 2026, Carsten Faust has been working at the Fulda prison again – this time as its head. “With this professional path you have also gained a very comprehensive overview of the Hessian prison system. This is an excellent basis for taking over the management in Fulda with a happy hand,” said the Minister of Justice with conviction.
Claus Peter Mihm, deputy head of the Fulda correctional facility, paid tribute to Koudela with the words: “As the head of the Fulda correctional facility, you have done a great job here,” and addressed his successor: “We look forward to a good and trusting collaboration with you and are sure that together with you we will master the future tasks and challenges well.”
Fulda's mayor Dr. Heiko Wingenfeld (CDU) thanked Koudela for his work and Faust for agreeing to take responsibility. “We can be happy that we were able to attract such a comprehensively experienced personality to Fulda.”
Klaus-Dieter Vogt, head of the Hünfeld JVA, gave a greeting to the heads of the correctional facilities in the state of Hesse. He emphasized: “The Fulda JVA has a special position in Hesse. With 77 places, it is not the smallest, but it is a very small prison. Especially in a small institution, the distances are short, you cannot distribute the work among many people because there are not many.” Karsten Koudela ran the Fulda JVA for almost seven years “with skill and without injuries to either the staff or the prisoners”. His successor Carsten Faust attested to Vogt: “You didn't make a decision without a clear eye for detail. I always appreciated that from you.”
Returning to Fulda “like coming home”
Steffen Adamczyk, chairman of the staff council of the Fulda JVA, emphasized that Koudela had successfully managed the facility even during the difficult Corona period. Turning to Carsten Faust, he said: “For some colleagues you may be a new face, but for the old hands in Fulda, your return is almost like a homecoming.”
In the end, Koudela and Faust took the floor themselves. “I enjoyed coming to the office in Fulda every day. I could always rely on my employees and it was always a pleasure to work with them here,” said Koudela. “The JVA Kassel is my home institution, where I began my training in the prison system in 1993. The transfer close to home closes my professional circle.”
Faust was also pleased about his return to Fulda, which was “like coming home.” “I was warmly welcomed by the staff. I would like to thank you very much for that.”
Only at the end of March There is also said to have been a physical altercation between two prisoners in the Hünfeld correctional facility. However, the evidence in court was thin.
