Denmark transfers criminal offenders to Kosovo.
Denmark is facing a problem of overcrowded prisons, so it has struck a deal with Kosovo to rent out 300 cells. Parliament in Kosovo has approved this deal, which will see them earn a three-digit million sum.
While this might seem like a lot of money, it's going towards improving prisons and funding renewable energy projects. A total of 86 MPs voted in favor of the agreement, with just 7 voting against. Denmark's prisoners will be housed in a facility located in Gjilan, about 50 km from the capital city Pristina.
It's worth noting that prisoners convicted of terrorism or war crimes, as well as those with mental illnesses, will not be sent to Kosovo. Denmark's Justice Minister, Peter Hummelgaard, described this agreement as crucial to address their overburdened prison system.
Denmark's prison population has spiked by almost 20% since 2015, surpassing 4,000 prisoners at the start of 2021. This means their prisons are officially over capacity. Meanwhile, the number of prison guards has decreased by 18% during this time period. Norway and Belgium have also used this method of renting prison cells in the past, in the Netherlands.
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Denmark has agreed to send prisoners to a facility in Gjilan, Kosovo, to alleviate overcrowding in their own prisons. Despite the financial gains for Kosovo, Denmark will not transfer prisoners convicted of terrorism, war crimes, or those with mental illnesses.
Source: www.ntv.de
