The number of inmates sleeping on the floor in Belgian prisons has increased by 30 in the past week, bringing the total to 252, according to the latest data confirmed by the prison workers’ union ACOD.
Union representative Robby De Kaey attributed the rise to the emergency laws implemented by the government. “The emergency legislation was intended to temporarily ease pressure on prisons, but instead, it has caused inmates with delayed sentences or extended prison leave to be recalled,” he said. “This has led to further overcrowding, with even more people forced to sleep on the floor.”
The overcrowding has also put immense pressure on prison kitchens. “Inmates are complaining about receiving too little food and poor-quality meals,” De Kaey explained. “As prison staff, we cannot deny those claims.” He noted that last year’s budget allocations — based on outdated population figures — are now insufficient to meet the growing needs.
Currently, Belgian prisons, transition houses, and detention centres house 13,003 inmates, despite having only 11,040 beds available. The government introduced temporary emergency beds in 2022 to mitigate the crisis, but they have not resolved the issue, leaving hundreds of inmates still sleeping on the floor. The Antwerp prison is particularly overcrowded, with 68 of its 700 inmates sleeping on the ground. The latest figures show an increase of 30 floor sleepers compared to data from 19 August.
Staff shortages are compounding the crisis. Prisons are operating with a staffing level of just under 94% due to a deficit of 462 workers. Additionally, there are shortages of 32 administrative staff, 11 psychologists, and 91 medical and psychiatric nurses, raising concerns about the quality of care and operations within the prison system.
