Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Hasselt prison, meant for 450 inmates, now holds 623, causing food and living problems. Lawyer Michiel Van Kelecom has filed a complaint about the overcrowding situation.
The prison in Hasselt is designed for 450 inmates, but it currently holds 623 prisoners, which is 200 more than capacity. This overcrowding creates problems, especially since the budget is based on the official capacity. Lawyer Michiel Van Kelecom, who represents one of the inmates, says the food meant for 450 people is now shared among more prisoners, leading to smaller portions. This raises concerns about the nutrition of the inmate’s nutrition
What actions will address the overcrowding crisis in Belgian prisons?
A formal complaint has been filed with the complaints committee, which is an independent group that reviews issues from inmates. The complaint points out the poor living conditions caused by overcrowding and the lack of resources for the number of prisoners. This situation highlights a larger problem of prison overcrowding in Belgium, where limited resources and bad living conditions are affecting both inmates and staff.
According to Kristof Muyters from the ACOD union, each prisoner usually gets about 4.90 euros for food, but because of overcrowding, it has dropped to around 3.50 euros. He notes that while there is enough food, it has to be shared more, and meals have changed from steak to cheaper options like hamburgers or sausages. However, prison spokesperson Kathleen Van De Vijver says there is enough food, although they have slightly reduced meat or fish portions from 175 grams to 150 grams, other food amounts remain the same.
Prisons have cut extras like chocolate and special meals because of budget limits. The daily food budget is now 4.93 euros, but prices are increasing. With over 600 prisoners in Hasselt, the budget changes every month. While inmates can buy snacks in the canteen, a lawyer is worried about overcrowding. He says the government’s plan is causing problems, as some prisoners are spending a month in jail and a month at home, making it hard for them to work and pay rent.
