The Council of Europe denounces in a report published Friday, September 2 the overcrowding in Greek prisons and the living conditions which are
"an affront to human dignity"
.
The report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Degrading Treatment (CPT) of the Council of Europe follows two weeks of visits at the end of 2021 to five prisons: in Korydallos - the largest, near Athens -, Nigrita (north), and the settlements of the islands of Kos, Chios and Corfu.
The report, which assesses living conditions in prisons ten years after the recommendations issued by the CPT, reveals
“overcrowding and poor conditions of detention, violence between prisoners, a serious shortage of staff and inadequate health services”
.
During the visit carried out at the end of 2021,
“Greece had 11,182 detainees for 10,175 places, which represents an occupancy rate of 110%”
, notes the report.
Of 34 correctional establishments, 24 were overcrowded and fifteen of them have an occupancy rate of more than 130%, it is specified.
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The CPT highlighted progress in the medical care of prisoners with an increase in the number of carers in prisons.
But he is concerned about the
“lack of thorough investigations into deaths in custody”
and the lack of
“constructive activities”
offered to detainees with a view to their reintegration into society.
The CPT recommends that Greece increase
"the use of alternative sentences to imprisonment"
,
"adopt measures intended to facilitate social reintegration"
, and
"better distribute the prisoners between penitentiary establishments"
.
In a response to the committee, the Greek government assured that it would step up transfers to less congested prison farms and draw up a
“reassessed strategic plan”
based on the CPT's recommendations.
Greek authorities also explained that reintegration and education initiatives for detainees have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Efforts to reduce the prison population in Greece have been controversial in the past.
A 2015 law passed by the previous left-wing government that freed some 10,000 petty criminals has been criticized by conservatives as contributing to rising crime.