The Czech Republic continues to lead the European Union in incarceration rates, with 210 prisoners per 100,000 citizens – nearly double the EU average of 114. Currently housing 19,429 inmates, Czech prisons are operating at 97% capacity, highlighting a growing concern for the nation’s justice system.
Justice Minister Pavel Blažek (ODS) acknowledges that the Czech Republic, alongside Slovakia, maintains an outdated approach to punishment that diverges from European trends favoring alternative sentences. “There’s still a societal perception that if someone isn’t behind bars, it’s not really punishment,” Blažek notes.
In the broader European context, the Czech Republic ranks sixth in incarceration rates, following Russia, Belarus, Turkey, Georgia, and Lithuania. The contrast is stark when compared to other EU members – Cyprus maintains just 52 prisoners per 100,000 citizens, while Denmark reports 63.
A proposed amendment to the Criminal Code could offer some relief by expanding alternatives to imprisonment, such as community service, house arrest, and electronic monitoring. However, the legislation still awaits its first reading in Parliament, with uncertain prospects for passage before the upcoming elections.
Adding to these challenges, the prison service faces severe staffing shortages, with approximately 1,000 positions vacant out of a planned 11,500 employees.