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Sweden: 'Exporting' prisoners to Estonia

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January 30, 2026

Sweden wants to send inmates to Estonian prisons because its own facilities are overcrowded. Could this model be used by other European countries?

Sweden’s prisons are overcrowded, with facilities like Västervik Norra operating at 141 % capacity. Estonia, however, has modern but underused prisons such as Tartu, which could host up to 600 Swedish inmates. While conditions are similar, differences in rehabilitation programs and security concerns raise debate. Still, transferring prisoners could ease Sweden's growing incarceration pressure.

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