Sweden seeks prison capacity solutions in talks with Estonia’s justice minister in Tallinn

On Friday, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer visited Tallinn for discussions with Estonian Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta regarding the issue of prison capacity. According to Strömmer’s press secretary, talks are ongoing with Estonia about securing additional prison spaces, although these discussions are still in the early stages.

Sweden is currently facing a shortage of prison places, a situation that has been repeatedly highlighted by the Swedish Prison and Probation Service. In response to this issue, the agency submitted a report in December of the previous year recommending the rental of prison spaces abroad as one potential solution. The report also suggested alternative measures, including the use of prison ships and increasing the number of individuals placed under electronic monitoring instead of serving time in traditional facilities.

The ongoing negotiations with Estonia could provide critical assistance as Sweden seeks to address its incarceration challenges. The shortage of prison places has raised concerns about the overall effectiveness of the criminal justice system in managing the growing number of offenders.