Belgian Prisons Face Record Overcrowding as 2,000 New Spaces Planned

Belgium is grappling with severe overcrowding in its prison system, prompting Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden to announce a plan for 2,037 new spaces. The proposal was approved by the Cabinet last month and has now entered the implementation stage, with an initial budget of 55 million euros, and a total projected cost of 1.1 billion euros. Belgian prisons are currently housing 13,062 inmates in facilities originally designed for just 11,040, with Antwerp’s prison notoriously holding nearly 700 people in a building made for 439, forcing dozens to sleep on the floor.

Despite steps to expand capacity, prison unions warn that simply adding new space will not solve the crisis unless more staff are hired. Unions highlight persistent staff shortages and increased workloads, noting the impact on both employees and inmates. In Ghent, staff are preparing for a local strike to protest extended shifts and heightened demands, especially after recent incidents connected to hospital security and longer work hours.

To ease crowding, Belgium currently allows 670 inmates to serve the last six months of their sentences under conditional release. However, those convicted of terrorism or sexual offenses remain ineligible for early release. Plans to expand prison capacity must now address both physical infrastructure and the ongoing challenge of recruiting and retaining enough qualified personnel.