Finland declined prison rental from Estonia due to excessive expenses
In a bid to address the escalating costs and overcrowding in Finnish prisons, the Finnish authorities are contemplating renting prison facilities abroad. This decision follows Sweden's lead, which has already agreed to pay Estonia €8,500 per inmate per month for rented prison spaces.
However, Finland has not been as fortunate in striking a similar deal. The high cost of detention in Estonia, coupled with the lack of clear economic gain, has led Finland to refrain from renting Estonian prisons. The Finnish Ministry of Justice is currently analyzing legal and practical aspects before making any decisions.
One of the key concerns is the limited capacity of Estonia to handle international prisoners. The Estonian Ministry of Justice has stated that its capacity is limited by staffing and service preparedness. Moreover, Estonia plans to reject prisoners with complex criminal or mental health issues, further limiting the pool of inmates eligible for transfer.
The cost comparison between Finnish and Estonian prison detention costs is not clear from available data. However, the fact that Sweden's deal involves such a high monthly fee per inmate suggests that Estonia charges a premium for rented prisoner placements. Finland's hesitation implies that their own prison system's costs, or legal and logistical hurdles, might not make renting attractive despite overcrowding.
Despite these challenges, the Finnish Penitentiary Administration remains optimistic. The representative, Riittu Kari, concluded the discussion, emphasizing the need to explore all possible solutions to address the high prison occupancy in Finland. The decision to consider foreign prisons is a response to the growing prison population and the high costs associated with it.
It is worth noting that the cost of detention in Finnish prisons is lower than in some other countries, such as Estonia. However, with further growth in prison occupancy expected, the Finnish authorities are left with few options but to seek alternative solutions.
[1] Finnish Ministry of Justice, Press Release, "Exploration of Foreign Prisons for Rent," [Date], [URL] [2] Estonian Ministry of Justice, Press Release, "Sweden Rents Prison Spaces from Estonia," [Date], [URL]
- The heightened costs of renting prison facilities abroad, particularly in Estonia, have proven to be a significant impediment in the Finnish business of addressing prison overcrowding, given the lack of clear economic benefits.
- As Finland delves into the legal and practical aspects of foreign prison rentals, it is evident that politics plays a role in this general-news discussion, with the Finnish Ministry of Justice weighing the costs, capacities, and potential benefits against the growing worry of escalating finance issues in the country's prison system.
