tagged: close prisons, draft bill, failed, Greece, Justice Minister, Papaionanou, Parliament, prison directors

Greek Prison Directors: “Sorry, We’re Full!”

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Very Mix

In an unprecedented move the directors of three Greek prisons decided to put a ‘padlock’ to the prisons they manage and do not accept any new inmates. The directors of prisons in Athens, Chalkida and Tripoli sent letters to the Minister of Justice and prosecuting authorities announcing that the prisons are full and that there is no room for more prisoners. 

The director of Korydallos prison in Athens stressed in his letter ”

We inform you that as of Jan 27, 2012, we are unable to accept more prisoners due to  suffocating and overcrowding circumstances in the prison that has cutrrrently 2,345 prisoners”. 

The capacity of the prison is for 800 inmates.

Similar dramatic the director of Chalkida wrote:

“There is no space for more prisoners except at the toilets. We are closed. The situation is tragic. The prison is about to ‘explode’ with unpredictable consequences for safety. Please,  after taking into consideration the above, do not send more prisoners here.  There is not a free inch anymore.”

The director of Tripolis prison announced to the Ministry that “the prison has closed its doors“. Its capacity is for 65 prisoners, however there are 180 prisoners there.

Four more prison directors from Thessaloniki, Malandrio, Grevena and Nafplio sent complaining letters to the Ministry of Justice.

While Greek prisons have capacity for 9,300 prisoners, there are currently ‘hosting’ 12,703 people. This is the largest number ever in the history of the Greek state.

The decisions to put padlocks to prisons are expected to cause huge problems at the police stations of the Greek capital and Chalkida, as detainees and prisonersin spe would have to stay there. Also problems are expected in the country justice system because the detainees or prisoners won’t be able to be transferred to prisons near the courts.

Papademos’ Coalition Gov’ Partners Divided

Justice Minister Miltiadis Papaioannou has been promoting a bill for the decongestion of prisons. Prisoners sentenced up to 5-10 years imprisonment should go free. On Tuesday evening, the deputies of conservative Nea Dimokratia and far-wing LAOS, two of the parties forming the Papademos coalition government,  left the plenary hall of the Parliament where the draft bill was discussed. The two political parties want only prisoners sentenced up to 5 years to go free. Papioannou did not give in their demands to change the draft bill.

Transportation Minister Makis Voridis (LAOS) threatened to quit the government should drug-dealers go free. He was speaking at a live broadcast ot state NET TV>

This is the second time within a week that problems arise among the coalition government partners. The first was last week, when deputies of all three parties did not vote in favor of bill extending the working hours of the pharmacies.