prison overcrowding — prison overcrowding — The new justice minister has pledged to tackle the pressing issue of overcrowding at the central prisons complex, although he has ruled out the immediate construction of a new facility.
On Thursday, Constantinos Fitiris convened his first meeting with representatives from the police’s Isotita trade union, which advocates for prison wardens. During this meeting, he expressed commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the corrections department.
In a statement released by Isotita following the discussions, the minister acknowledged the inadequacy of the current prison premises, remarking that “a facility built in 1890 cannot be converted into a modern one.” His comments underline the urgent need for reform in response to the outdated infrastructure.
While Fitiris confirmed that a new facility is not “in an immediate trajectory of implementation,” he assured the union that there would be significant developments, which they would learn about “from the results.” This assurance comes amidst growing concerns over the conditions within the current facilities.
One of the immediate issues raised during the meeting was the severe understaffing at the prisons. Fitiris promised that the ministry would announce vacancies for the hiring of 90 new prison wardens in the coming days, a move welcomed by the Isotita union. However, they emphasised that this should be merely a starting point and called for an organisational restructuring that aligns with international standards. They proposed a guideline ensuring a minimum of one warden for every 15 inmates.
The discussion also touched upon safety measures within the prison system. The leadership of the ministry agreed to establish a rapid response and containment team that would conduct surprise inspections and manage any violent outbreaks among inmates.
In addition to addressing staffing issues, Isotita proposed alternative measures to alleviate the overcrowding crisis. These include alternatives to incarceration, such as community service or placing inmates under house arrest with electronic monitoring. Such initiatives could potentially reduce the number of individuals held in the already strained prison system.
Union representatives reiterated their call for allowing wardens to retire voluntarily after 25 years of service, citing the stressful nature of the job as a significant concern. This request highlights the toll that working under such conditions takes on the staff.
The urgency of reform in Cyprus’ prison system is further underscored by a recent report from the Council of Europe’s committee for the prevention of torture, which raised alarms about “serious problems” within the central prisons. The committee expressed “grave concerns” over the high levels of inter-prisoner violence, a situation that has only been exacerbated by the overcrowded conditions.
This report follows a tragic incident where a 35-year-old Egyptian national was killed during a violent altercation with another inmate, drawing attention to the dire need for immediate action and systemic reform.