Europe's Prison Overcrowding Crisis Worsens Amid Staff Shortages

Belgium's prisons are severely overcrowded, with 13,733 inmates exceeding capacity of 11,064 as of mid-May. Conditions have deteriorated significantly, with prisoners confined to cells 22-23 hours daily, inadequate medical care, and disease outbreaks including scabies and monkeypox. The crisis stems partly from a 2023 policy change enforcing sentences previously served under electronic monitoring. Across Europe, one-third of prison administrations face overcrowding, with guards experiencing severe burnout and critical incidents doubling within a year.