EPSU FACT SHEET
Prison Action day 28 February 2008
The CAUSES of Prison Overcrowding in the EU
-# ‘Lock them up' is seen as the main solution to crime
-# Privatised prisons see prisoners as ‘products' to be mass-produced for profit
-# 20% of Europe's prison population, 30% in France and Belgium, are those waiting for trial (remand)
-# Non-custodial measures (electronic tagging, community work) are not adequately promoted
-# Prisons are becoming a dumping ground for difficult social and/or health problems (long term mentally ill/ drug users/ undocumented entrants to the EU)
-# Insufficient investment in preventative social measures
-# 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.
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