Starting in Kosuge (which was located on the site of today's Tokyo Detention House) and Miyagi (the predecessor of Miyagi Prison) in 1879, Shujikan were built across the country under the direct control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Japan).
1879年に内務省(日本)直轄の集治監が小菅（現在の東京拘置所の敷地にあった）と宮城（宮城刑務所の前身）を皮切りに全国各地に作られた。