alba24.ro/penitenciarele-din-romania-supraaglomera

The Romanian Minister of Justice, Radu Marinescu, announced plans to create at least 500 new prison places by the end of the year due to a 126% overcrowding rate. Originally, 1,762 new places were planned for 2026, but progress has been slow. In 2025, 1,062 new places were completed, with only 292 finished by April 2026. The Minister emphasized the need to accelerate ongoing projects to address the shortage of detention space. The issue of overcrowding has been highlighted by both national authorities and European institutions, with recommendations for improving conditions. A strategic plan for 2026-2029 includes investments for new facilities and modernization of existing ones, supported by a €177 million loan from the Council of Europe Development Bank.