Iceland’s prison system is under increasing pressure, with a higher-than-normal number of people currently in custody, according to Birgir Jónasson, acting director of prisons.
As reported in an article from Iceland’s national broadcasting service, RÚV, overcrowding has become a significant concern for Iceland’s prison service. As it stands currently, the backlog of individuals waiting to serve sentences is growing.
“It can be said that in recent months there have been an unusually large number of people being held in custody,” Birgir told the new agency, “which of course has the consequence that we cannot use that space for serving sentences.”
Currently, between 60 and 70 of the country’s 170 available prison spaces are occupied by individuals in detention. As a result, there is now limited capacity for others, with some sentences expiring before even being served.
In addition to these issues, non-criminal foreign nationals are also being held in prison to await deportation. “There are people in detention because they are seeking deportation and do not have a residence permit,” Birgir explained.
This article was originally published at Iceland Review
