overcrowding in 13 nations, Eurostat ratio | EUROtoday

Work and coaching

According to Antigone’s report, the quantity of people that work in jail employed by the jail itself grows barely. “It was 16.305 to 30 June 2023 and went up to 17,096 on the same date of 2024 – reads the report -.

On the other hand, they significantly increase those who work for other employers, who went from 2,848 to 30 June 2023 to 3.144 to 30 June 2024. Both semi -drivers (+84) and people in art. 21 (+117), both people who work for private employers in prison, are these social cooperatives (+62) or profit companies (+29). The number of those who work for the latter remains very low. As of June 30, 2024, the prisoners who worked for traditional private companies were only 213, while 899 were working for social cooperatives ».

France: records and emergency measures

France also records alarming numbers. According to the Ministry of Justice, 82,152 people were held as of March 1, 2025, a new record for the country. The official capacity, on the other hand, was 62,539 seats, with a overcrowding rate of 131.7% – well above the guard limit. In 15 penitentiary institutions, even 200%was exceeded. The situation in French prisons is so serious that over 4,500 prisoners are forced to sleep on mattresses resting on the ground. To deal with the emergency, the Minister of Justice Gérald Dermanin has announced a plan to build 15,000 new places by 2029 and asked that suitable foreign prisoners are transferred to their countries of origin to serve the sentence there.

Spain: less overcrowding, more reintegration

Spain, while recording an increase in the prison population (56,698 detained in 2023), maintains a relatively content overcrowding rate: 75% according to the latest penitentiary reform. The country has adopted a more re -educational approach: the progressive system allows prisoners a gradual transition to more open regimes, based on the behavior and risk of recurrence. The role of social insertion centers (CIS) are also remarkable, which allow the inmates to work or study outside during the day. The data show that 80% of the prisoners released do not return to criminal.

Austria: few places, few reforms

In Austria, on 1 May 2025, 9,915 prisoners had been counted in opposition to an official capability of 8,263 seats (employment at 108.75%). The nation was criticized by the Court of Auditors for the absence of investments in reintegration applications and for the shortage of employees. According to specialists, in Austria it’s nonetheless resorted too often to the jail sentence, usually additionally for minor crimes. Although the essential points have been identified for years, to date not necessary structural reforms have been launched.