Overcrowding in prisons hides men, women and zombies

Incarcerated for three weeks – Overcrowding prisons hides men, women

If Anita does not deny the facts. Consequently, which go back to 2019, she falls from the clouds: she never knew that she had been tried. Nevertheless, The quotation to appear has never reached him – undoubtedly lost between his many nicknames.

On Monday, the young woman, who has become a mother in the meantime, opposed the Brussels House of Vacations. Consequently, The judge acceded to his request: she will have to appear on September 8 before the criminal court to. Furthermore, present her arguments. Nevertheless, In the meantime, she is released. For example, “She has been detained for three weeks in Mons prison. Nevertheless, She sleeps on the ground. overcrowding prisons hides men, women Moreover, There are four in a cell,” explains her lawyer.

In Mons, in the Women section, prison overcrowding remains critical. For example, According to figures from the prison administration, on Thursday, August 31, 54 prisoners present, for … However, 27 places. Consequently, Or an overview of 50 %. For example, Clearly, one in two beds are missing.

On paper. the situation seems less serious in Haren: Thursday, there were 1,179 detainees (including 109 women) for a total capacity of 1,035 beds (105), a general overpopulation rate of 14 %.

The Belgian State sentenced to “persistent” overcrowding of 30 % in Mons prison. not to mention the bedbugs and rats

The largest prison in the country – Overcrowding prisons hides men, women

The country’s largest prison, inaugurated in 2022, was supposed to replace the three former Brussels penal establishments (Saint-Gilles, Forest and Berkendael) which fell in ruins. Except that the old overcrowding prisons hides men, women Saint-Gilles prison is still active; The 515 places are all busy.

Haren’s “penitentiary village” was to be the window of a modern. human prison policy, where prisoners stay in small groups in life units where they are prepared to succeed in their reintegration in society.

The reality is much more trivial, far from the prospectus in glossy paper. There are still a hundred prison officers in Haren still missing that the frame is complete. The turnover is very important, such as absences for reasons of illness.

The shortage of personnel which is added to overcrowding has catastrophic effects on the conditions of detention.

Rat fights, mushrooms, humidity … when she had to close the Saint-Gilles prison for her unsanitary conditions will ultimately remain open

“I. don’t remember”

Amir (assumed first name) has been incarcerated there since August 2024. On Tuesday, he overcrowding prisons hides men, women appeared before the Brussels Court of Appeal. This 25 -year -old Moroccan. without a known address in Belgium, found himself at the center of a fight with other residents of a squat. There were stab wounds, injuries with a bottle shard.

Last February. the young man, who has a virgin criminal record, was sentenced to first instance for assault and injury and attempted murder. Amir admits having been mixed with an altercation and which he struck to defend himself, he disputes the homicide intention. He never had a knife. “Never,” he repeats forcefully. It was not he who stabbed the victim who ended up with a deep 20 -centimeters long in his throat. Asked about the details of the facts, he responds almost invariably: “I don’t remember.”

“You wonder why he no longer knows how to give you a precise story with accuracy? He has been overcrowding prisons hides men, women detained for a year in Haren prison. It is not trivial, launches the defense lawyer. It is a zombie prison where there are not enough guards. where drugs are given to prisoners so that they remain calm. This had to alter his memory.” At the visiting room, during visits, Amir is still in gas.

The most optimistic scenario

The Minister of Justice’s emergency law. Annelies Verlinden (CD&V), which has just been voted in the House, wants to lower the pressure between bars. For sentences to small penalties (up to 3 years old), the prison must be “the ultimate sanction”, argues the minister. But at the same time. the sentenced to longer sentences, whose nuts had been put in parentheses, will be summoned to serve their sentence. And detainees who currently benefit from the prolonged penitentiary leave regime will be systematically reinforced.

In the prisons corridors, overcrowding prisons hides men, women no one believes in a miracle. In the best of cases, these emergency measures will stabilize overcrowding. But this is the optimistic scenario, we are slipped. There were, yesterday, 13,023 detainees present in Belgian cells. For 11,040 places.