Sweden to Transfer Inmates to Estonia Amid Prison Overcrowding

Stockholm, Sweden – June 4, 2025 – Sweden has announced a significant agreement to address its growing prison overcrowding issue by transferring inmates to Estonia. This move comes in response to a surge in gang-related violence that has resulted in a substantial increase in the inmate population within Swedish prisons.

Agreement Details

On Monday, Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer confirmed the government’s decision to rent 600 prison places at Estonia's Tartu correctional facility. The arrangement involves utilizing 400 cells, which can accommodate two inmates each, thereby facilitating the transfer of 600 individuals. Strömmer highlighted that the agreement marks a pragmatic solution to Sweden's prison crisis, with facilities currently operating at 96% capacity—141% if accounting for cells designed for double occupancy.

Increasing Inmate Population

The urgent need for this initiative stems from an alarming rise in crime rates associated with gang activity in Sweden. In 2023 alone, Swedish courts imposed prison sentences totaling nearly 200,000 months, reflecting a 25% increase from the previous year and doubling the figures from 2014. Earlier this year, a government commission recommended that Sweden consider international options for housing inmates as a means of alleviating the burden on its correctional facilities.

Political and Economic Implications

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson praised the agreement as historic, emphasizing the strong bilateral relationships between Sweden and Estonia. He noted that the rented facilities meet Sweden's Class 2 standards, ensuring a level of quality for the transferred inmates. The Estonian correctional staff will lead operations at the facility, supplemented by Swedish personnel for oversight.

Financially, the partnership is also appealing. The monthly cost per inmate is set at €8,500, significantly lower than the €11,500 average incurred in Swedish prisons. This economic advantage may play a pivotal role in the government’s continued support for the agreement.

Conditions of Transfer

Under the terms of the agreement, Estonian law will govern the prison environment, with Swedish inmates unable to access temporary leave within Estonia. However, the process will ensure that inmates commence and conclude their sentences in Sweden, with transfers back home scheduled at least one month prior to their release dates.

Despite this initiative being viewed as groundbreaking, it mirrors previous arrangements made by neighboring countries. Norway has successfully sent inmates to serve sentences in the Netherlands since 2015, while Belgium and the Netherlands also exchanged prisoners in the past. More controversially, Denmark entered a €15 million agreement with Kosovo in 2021 to house inmates, a move that raised ethical concerns due to the distinct legal and cultural climates of the two nations.

Next Steps

The agreement between Sweden and Estonia will require ratification by the Swedish parliament, necessitating a three-quarters majority for it to become law. As Sweden navigates its increasing crime challenges amidst a political shift to the right, with the far-right Sweden Democrats gaining influence, the outcome of this plan will remain under close scrutiny.

In summary, Sweden's decision to send inmates to Estonia represents a multifaceted approach to managing prison overcrowding while addressing escalating crime rates, with economic and diplomatic considerations shaping the framework of this significant correctional policy shift.