Nearly 300 prisoners are sleeping on the floor in Belgium due to a lack of space, according to the latest population figures accessed by Belga News Agency.
Currently, 281 inmates are sleeping on the floor, with 210 in Flanders. Antwerp faces the most severe situation with 69 prisoners without beds, followed by Ghent with 32 and Dendermonde with 31. Across the language border, 71 prisoners are affected.
The overwhelming majority are men, but ten women also sleep on the floor. With nearly 300 floor sleepers, the situation threatens to set a new record, with figures normally fluctuating around 200.
Prison overcrowding has reached a peak with 13,062 inmates in facilities designed to hold only 11,040. For example, Antwerp officially accommodates only 439 places, yet houses 692 prisoners. Similarly, Bruges prison contains 847 inmates but has provisions for just 612.
Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) announced on Friday plans to create 2,037 new prison spaces by 2030.
However, in addition to overcrowding, prisons suffer from staffing shortages, which could undermine Verlinden’s plans, according to the trade union VSOA. "Where will the minister find additional staff? We are already stretched thin, with severe consequences for the welfare and safety of our personnel," VSOA stated.
The union is also sceptical about increasing prisoner spaces, as it contradicts previous plans to focus on alternative sentencing. Currently, 670 prisoners are on extended penitentiary leave, meaning certain inmates (excluding terrorists or sex offenders) may be released early under conditions if they are within six months of completing their sentence.
