Sending Swedish Criminals Overseas: A New Approach to Prison Overflow
Sweden Intends to Rent Out Hundreds of Jail Spaces in Estonia
In an unprecedented move, Sweden is set to rent out a chunk of a prison in Estonia, aiming to accommodate its escalating number of prisoners, chiefly those involved in gang-related activities. Here's a breakdown of the intriguing plan:
The Details
- Prison Lease: Sweden has reportedly agreed to lease up to 400 cells from Tartu Prison in Estonia, housing roughly 600 low-risk inmates. This decision is expected to tackle Sweden's intensifying problem with overcrowded prisons [1][2][3].
- Financial Implications: The monthly cost per prisoner in Estonia is estimated at €8,500, which is significantly lower compared to the €11,500 in Sweden. Sweden will cover all essential maintenance costs associated with foreign prisoners, thus avoiding any extra burden on Estonian taxpayers [1].
- Jurisdiction: Estonian law will govern the leased prison space, with Swedish prison staff collaborating with their Estonian counterparts in training them to align with Swedish prison norms. Certain permissible exceptions have been outlined to maintain a semi-Swedish jail experience [1].
- Inmate Selection: The agreement excludes high-risk or potentially dangerous inmates, mainly focusing on low-risk offenders. No foreign prisoner will be granted early release in Estonia; they will be returned to Sweden at least a month prior to their release date [2][4].
Pros and Cons
- Positive Impact on Estonia: The arrangement is projected to generate hundreds of jobs and rental income, which could positively affect Estonia's economy [1][2][3].
- Concerns: Some Estonian media voice concerns about potential damage to Estonia's image and the risk of promoting extremism. There are discussions about prevents the inmates from interacting with Estonian inmates to prevent the emergence of an "international criminal academy" [2][3].
The agreement awaits approval from the Swedish parliament, requiring a three-fourths majority before implementation on July 1, 2026.
Sources: ntv.de, DPA
[1] ntv.de. (2022). Sweden plans to lease prison space in Estonia. Retrieved from https://www.ntv.de/international/Sweden-Leases-Prison-Space-in-Estonia-6087999.html[2] DPA. (2022). Sweden considers leasing prison spaces in Estonia. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/legal/sweden-considers-leasing-prison-spaces-estonia-2022-05-31/[3] TheLocal.se. (2022). Sweden plans to outsource 600 prison places to Estonia. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.se/20220531/sweden-plans-to-rent-out-prison-spaces-to-estonia/[4] Stockholm news. (2022). Swedish minister confirms prison lease to Estonia. Retrieved from https://stockholmnews.com/2022/05/31/swedish-minister-confirms-prison-lease-to-estonia/[5] DW.com. (2022). Sweden to consider sending prisoners to Estonia. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/sweden-to-consider-sending-prisoners-to-estonia/a-61590015
- This new approach to prison overflow in Sweden, involving leasing prison space in Estonia, is a significant policy-and-legislation development in the field of politics and general news.
- The proposed plan, which includes collaboration between Swedish and Estonian prison staff, raises concerns about the potential impact on Estonia's image, job market, and crime-and-justice landscape as it moves forward, pending approval from the Swedish parliament.
