The revolution of November 1989 reached the prison in a way nobody had planned. In January 1990 President Václav Havel granted a wide amnesty and about two thirds of Czechoslovakia's prisoners walked out; the ones left behind were those with the longest sentences, and that spring prisons across the country revolted. At Leopoldov in March 1990 prisoners seized part of the complex and buildings burned before order was restored by force — the event most Slovaks still picture when they hear the name. In November 1991 an escape attempt from the prison cost the lives of five prison officers.Novembrová revolúcia roku 1989 dorazila do väznice spôsobom, ktorý nikto neplánoval. V januári 1990 vyhlásil prezident Václav Havel rozsiahlu amnestiu a z československých väzníc odišli asi dve tretiny odsúdených; zostali tí s najdlhšími trestami — a na jar sa väznice po celej krajine vzbúrili. V Leopoldove väzni v marci 1990 ovládli časť areálu, budovy horeli a poriadok obnovovali silou. Práve toto si väčšina Slovákov pri tom mene vybaví. V novembri 1991 si pokus o útek z väznice vyžiadal životy piatich príslušníkov zboru.
