Greece earmarks €40 million for new prison in Peloponnese
Greece has earmarked approximately €40 million for the construction of a new prison near Megalopoli in the Peloponnese, as the government moves to tackle persistent overcrowding across the country's penitentiary system.
The Finance Ministry announced the funding on Thursday, saying the new facility would accommodate up to 600 inmates, primarily classified as low security-risk prisoners, and employ approximately 300 staff members.
The prison is also expected to include educational programs, workshops and a farm section. No specific completion date has been announced.
In a statement, the ministry said the project would "contribute decisively to addressing the long-standing problem of prison overcrowding" while creating employment opportunities in the Megalopoli area, which has been affected by Greece's transition away from coal-based energy production.
Prison population exceeds designed capacity
According to Finance Ministry data, Greece currently holds 14,239 inmates across 35 prisons, despite the facilities having a combined designed capacity of just under 10,800.
Of the total prison population, 3,193 people are awaiting trial.
Approximately half of those incarcerated are foreign nationals, while 834 are women. A further 793 inmates are serving life sentences.
The overcrowding has intensified following a series of legal reforms introduced by the conservative government, which has been in power since 2019 and which have contributed to an increase in the number of people serving prison sentences.
The situation follows earlier measures introduced by the previous left-wing administration, which eased sentencing rules and expanded early-release provisions in an effort to reduce overcrowding. These policies brought the prison population down to approximately 10,600 in 2019.
Eight new prisons planned by 2030
The Megalopoli project forms part of a broader government plan to construct eight new prisons by 2030 while closing five existing facilities.
Among those scheduled for closure is Korydallos prison in the Piraeus district, Greece's largest penitentiary.
The facility currently holds 1,825 inmates despite having a designed capacity of just 1,222, highlighting the scale of pressure facing the country's prison system.
The government's wider strategy aims to modernize penitentiary infrastructure, increase available capacity and improve conditions for inmates and prison personnel.
The new Megalopoli facility is also expected to provide an economic boost to the local community through construction activity and the creation of approximately 300 permanent jobs.
Source:Kathimerini
