Faced with overflowing prisons and a surge in gang-related crime, Sweden’s government has finalized a deal to rent 600 prison spots in neighboring Estonia.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer announced on June 2 that Sweden will lease 400 double-occupancy cells at Tartu correctional facility — enough space for 600 inmates. “The negotiations have crossed the finish line,” Strömmer said, calling the plan a “practical solution” to an overstretched system now operating at 96% capacity — or 141% if counting single cells.
Sweden’s courts are handing down stiffer sentences. In 2023 alone, nearly 200,000 months of prison time were ordered — a 25% jump from the previous year and double the amount from 2014.
However, before Sweden can start transferring prisoners abroad, its parliament must approve the agreement by a three-quarters majority.
The move drew praise from the Sweden Democrats, a conservative party that campaigned hard on curbing gang crime and tightening sentencing laws. Party leader Jimmie Åkesson celebrated the deal on Facebook, hinting it’s just the start: “Sweden will become safe again — and building more prison capacity is a key step toward that goal.”
