Estonia Prepares to Host Up to 600 Swedish Inmates Amid Prison Overcrowding

Estonia is preparing to accommodate up to 600 Swedish inmates at Tartu Prison, aiming to alleviate Sweden’s prison overcrowding. The agreement, signed on June 18, 2025, is pending ratification by both countries’ parliaments.

Under the five-year lease, Sweden will rent 400 cells in Tartu Prison, located in southeastern Estonia. The facility, completed in 2002, currently has approximately 600 vacant cells, making it suitable for this arrangement.

The initiative aims to address Sweden’s prison system, which operates at 141% capacity due to a surge in gang-related crimes. By housing inmates in Estonia, Sweden anticipates significant cost savings, as the monthly expense per inmate in Estonia is €8,500, compared to €11,500 domestically.

Estonia stands to benefit economically from the agreement, with Sweden covering all maintenance costs related to the foreign prisoners. This arrangement is expected to generate at least €30 million in additional revenue for Estonia.

The agreement specifies that only low-risk male inmates over 18, convicted of serious crimes such as murder or sexual offenses, will be considered for transfer. Those with extensive care needs or deemed high-security risks, including individuals convicted of terrorism or linked to serious organized crime, will be excluded.

Estonian authorities will conduct thorough background checks on all foreign prisoners in cooperation with Sweden. High-risk individuals, including those involved in organized crime or radical extremism, will be excluded from the transfer.

The implementation of the agreement is expected to commence in the first half of 2026, with the first prisoners scheduled to be moved from Sweden to Tartu Prison during this period.

This collaboration between Estonia and Sweden reflects a growing trend in Europe to address prison overcrowding through international cooperation. Similar arrangements have been made in the past, such as Belgium and Norway renting prison spaces in the Netherlands, and Denmark’s agreement with Kosovo.

While the agreement is viewed as a pragmatic solution to prison overcrowding, it has raised concerns among some Estonian officials and citizens. The Estonian Office of the Chancellor of Justice and the Internal Security Service have emphasized the risks of importing organized crime and extremism through the transfer of foreign prisoners.

To address these concerns, the agreement includes provisions to ensure that Estonian prisoners’ conditions are not adversely affected, that foreign prisoners are treated in accordance with Estonian law and international standards, and that Estonia’s internal security is not compromised.

The successful implementation of this agreement will depend on effective cooperation between Estonian and Swedish authorities, as well as the establishment of robust monitoring and security measures to mitigate potential risks associated with housing foreign inmates.