According to the Rzeczpospolita daily, the Ministry of Justice is introducing strategies to reduce prison overpopulation, including increased use of electronic monitoring and advocating for early conditional releases. Prison directors are being encouraged to file more applications for such releases.
Paweł Moczydłowski, a former head of the Polish Prison Service, praised the reduction in inmate numbers.
"Decreasing the prison population is a very positive process that enhances safety and legal compliance within correctional facilities," Moczydłowski told Rzeczpospolita.
He also highlighted broader trends, noting, that "with a declining population and fewer crimes, the number of inmates should logically decrease. Yet, Poland has remained among the leaders in incarceration rates."
Conditional releases on the rise
After reaching a peak of over 78,000 inmates in May 2022, with prison occupancy nearing 93%, Poland's correctional system is now seeing a turnaround.
Data obtained by Rzeczpospolita shows that by the end of September this year, 4,536 inmates had been granted early conditional releases. If the current rate continues, over 6,000 inmates could be released early by year-end.
This would mark a nearly 20% increase in early releases compared to the previous year, aligning with policy changes initiated after the 2023 government transition.
(jh)
Source: Rzeczpospolita