Finland’s justice ministry is weighing up a prison rental agreement with Estonia similar to the deal made between Estonia and Sweden last month, Helsingin Sanomat reported.
Finland says all of its prisons are currently experiencing overcrowding – for example, the Vantaa prison near Helsinki had, as of last week, 70 more inmates than spaces available for them.
Finland’s justice minister, Leena Meri, said analysis got underway last month to establish whether Finnish law allows for renting prison places from a foreign country, with the primary view being to rent prison places from Estonia if it is legally permissible, Yle reported.
Meri said: “The idea is good and should be part of our toolbox,” though she was unable to put a timeline on when this may become a reality.
Corresponding analysis began in Finland before Estonia and Sweden concluded the prison place rental agreement in June, Meri added, and that agreement has given added impetus to Finland looking into the idea.
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