Overcrowding in Greek Prisons: Alarm in the Correctional System

The Greek correctional system is on alert due to overcrowding in prisons. In July 2025, occupancy reached an average of 116%, with the number of inmates exceeding 25,000, marking an increase of over 17% compared to 2024.

According to lawyer Kostas Papadakis, Greek prisons are overcrowded, housing over 13,000 inmates. Indicatively, in Tripoli, occupancy exceeded 252.8%, in Volos it reached 183.3%, while in Chios it reached 145.1%.

Spyros Karakitsos, former president of the Federation of Prison Employees, emphasizes that overcrowding negatively affects the functions of prisons and creates explosive situations due to the mingling of inmates of different categories and nationalities. He also points out understaffing and the flight of newly appointed employees due to working conditions and low wages.

Since 2019, the penal and correctional framework has been tightened, limiting the possibilities for transfers to agricultural prisons and permits. Papadakis notes that crime is not a product of character distortion but is linked to socio-economic and political causes.