Danish prisons hit record 105.4 percent occupancy

Danish prisons are operating at a record average occupancy of 105.4 percent, with a shortage of prison officers adding to the pressure, DR reports. The Prison Officers’ Union says 4,650 inmates are being held in a system with 4,300 places.

The overcrowding means two people may have to share an eight-square-metre cell built for one. Other spaces, including visiting rooms and classrooms, are also being used to house inmates.

Ina Eliasen, director of the Danish Prisons Agency, said sharing a small cell for much of the day puts pressure on both inmates and staff. Using visiting rooms for accommodation can also prevent inmates from seeing their children and make it difficult for defence lawyers to meet clients, she said.

Prison Officers’ Union chair René Larsen said the overcrowding is compounded by a historically low number of prison officers.

Opposition lawmakers criticised the government for failing to provide enough prison capacity. Jens Meilvang, justice spokesperson for the Liberal Alliance, called the situation “a scandal for the government”, saying a 2021 promise to create more than 2,000 prison places had yielded only 13 new places by the time the government reviewed progress last year.

Mai Mercado, justice spokesperson for the Conservative People’s Party, warned that overcrowding could become a vicious circle, with more inmates sharing cells and family rooms becoming unavailable for visits. She said the conditions could lead to more conflicts and make it harder to retain prison officers.

Anders Vistisen, justice spokesperson for the Danish People’s Party, said tougher sentences would create further pressure unless prison capacity increased accordingly. He also called for greater efforts to retain officers.

Eliasen said staff shortages are a key reason why more prison places cannot simply be put into use. The Danish Prisons Agency is working to recruit more staff, create new places and free up capacity through measures including greater use of electronic tags and resettlement prisons.

Further pressure is expected as sentences for offences including violence and rape have already been increased under a sentencing reform, with additional increases scheduled to take effect in January, Ritzau reports.

From January to July 2026, the highest average occupancy was recorded at Vejle Remand Prison, at 135 percent. Hillerød was at 120 percent, Ringsted at 118 percent, Næstved at 116 percent and Randers at 115 percent. Frederikssund reached 114 percent, Kalundborg and Aarhus 112 percent each, and Storstrøm and Esbjerg 110 percent each. The figures were provided by the Danish Prisons Agency through the Prison Officers’ Union.