Prison overcrowding: Ministers explore possible cooperation with Estonia
Federal minister of justice Annelies Verlinden and her colleague Anneleen Van Bossuyt, responsible for asylum and migration, are investigating the possibility of renting prison capacity in Estonia to detain undocumented criminals. They are paying a two-day visit to the Baltic state for this purpose. Meanwhile, overcrowding in Belgian prisons is on the rise again.
Renting capacity abroad is one of the avenues the Belgian government is exploring to tackle overcrowding in the country’s prisons. Exploratory visits have already taken place to Kosovo and Albania. On Monday and Tuesday, minister of justice Annelies Verlinden and minister of asylum and migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt are in Estonia to explore the option of cooperation.
Estonia is internationally renowned for its highly digitised justice and prison system. It has previously set up a similar cooperation with Sweden.
“If someone convicted in Belgium who is not entitled to remain in the country can serve their sentence in their country of origin or in foreign detention facilities, this means both the correct enforcement of the sentence and, at the same time, a significant efficiency gain for our penitentiary institutions,” declared minister Verlinden. “This will also make it possible to focus more and better on programmes to help prisoners reintegrate into our society at the end of their sentence.”
“Our message is clear: anyone who resides in our country illegally and is also guilty of criminality has no future here,” stated Van Bossuyt. "Return to the country of origin remains the first choice. When that is not possible, we look at detention outside Belgium. In this way, we not only strengthen the safety of our citizens, but also relieve the pressure on our prisons." She also emphasised the deterrent effect of prison capacity abroad.
Meanwhile, overcrowding in Belgian prisons is on the rise again. According to the most recent update, there are currently 585 prisoners who have to sleep on the floor. That is 55 more than in the previous count at the end of January. In total, 40 prisoners were added compared to 26 January.
Last Friday, the federal government's core cabinet approved a plan to reduce the number of internees in prisons. These are people who have committed a crime but who have a mental illness and therefore do not really belong in prison. The top ministers have however not yet agreed on a broader plan to tackle prison overcrowding.
Ministers Anneleen Van Bossuyt and Annelies Verlinden © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM