EU jail overcrowding at catastrophic levels
(MENAFN) Prisons across the European Union are experiencing severe overcrowding, with rising inmate numbers exceeding facility capacities in numerous countries, El Pais reported on Monday. In response, several EU member states are considering controversial measures, including sending foreign prisoners abroad and reducing sentences for non-violent offenders.
Data from the Council of Europe reveals that the average occupancy rate rose from 93.5 inmates per 100 available spots in January 2023 to 94.9 in January 2024. Approximately one-third of EU nations now exceed safe capacity levels, with Slovenia, Cyprus, France, Italy, Romania, and Belgium each reporting more than 113 inmates per 100 places.
To alleviate pressure, some countries are exploring deals to transfer inmates to prisons in other nations. Denmark and Sweden, for instance, are looking at arrangements with Kosovo and Estonia, respectively, to house their surplus prisoners.
These plans are drawing criticism, particularly because they primarily target foreign inmates, who are disproportionately represented in prison populations in countries like Belgium, France, and Sweden. Governments view foreign prisoners as more transferable, often under political pressure related to crime and immigration.
However, experts warn that such strategies have previously failed. Hugh Chetwynd, from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture, noted that similar initiatives in Belgium and Norway ran into major problems due to legal incompatibilities and lack of oversight. “These schemes won’t fix overcrowding—they’re just shifting the issue elsewhere,” he said, adding that differing legal systems and language barriers make implementation even harder. He also criticized proposals to bar prisoners from returning after serving their sentences, calling it a political shortcut to two complex issues: overcrowding and migration.
Local opposition is also growing. In Estonia, a government plan to rent out prison space to Sweden has sparked public backlash, especially in the city of Tartu, where the facility is located. Hundreds of residents have signed a petition opposing the move, which was initially introduced as a way to boost national revenue.
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