Greece’s prisons currently hold 14,055 inmates despite having a total capacity of 10,763, according to Kathimerini, with some prisoners even sleeping on the floor.
Following several incidents considered particularly concerning, most recently a fight between inmates at Domokos Prison on Monday night, a meeting was held on September 15 at the Ministry of Citizen Protection. The meeting was attended by Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and Aristos Perris, Secretary General for Crime Policy, who oversees the country’s prisons.
Korydallos Prison holds 1,825 inmates despite having a capacity of 1,222, while Komotini Prison holds 325 inmates in a facility with a capacity of 162.
Among the 14,055 inmates are hundreds of foreign nationals held primarily on charges of illegal entry, 1,600 prisoners who have met the requirements for conditional release, and 2,000 serving sentences of up to two years who could be released under electronic monitoring.
Electronic monitoring was fully introduced for the first time at the beginning of the summer. Although the measure is intended to help prisoners reintegrate into society, it could also help reduce overcrowding.
According to the figures, Korydallos Prison held 1,825 inmates in early September, compared with a capacity of 1,222. Komotini Prison held 325 people despite having a capacity of 162. Similar overcrowding has been reported at prisons in Drama and Alikarnassos, the Avlona juvenile detention facility and elsewhere.
Source: Kathimerini
