Prison overcrowding - THE CAUSES

-Brutal working and living conditions have brutal results-

EPSU FACT SHEET

Prison Action day 28 February 2008

The CAUSES of Prison Overcrowding in the EU

  1. ‘Lock them up’ is seen as the main solution to crime
  2. Privatised prisons see prisoners as ‘products’ to be mass-produced for profit
  3. 20% of Europe’s prison population, 30% in France and Belgium, are those waiting for trial (remand)
  4. Non-custodial measures (electronic tagging, community work) are not adequately promoted
  5. Prisons are becoming a dumping ground for difficult social and/or health problems (long term mentally ill/ drug users/ undocumented entrants to the EU)
  6. Insufficient investment in preventative social measures
  7. Quick fix solutions of ‘new beds in old dumps’ not improved facilities

Interesting fact! There is no connection between an increase in prison population and a decrease in crime rate.

-Brutal working and living conditions have brutal results-

European Federation of Public Service Unions
Representing 215 unions - 8 million public service workers