Greek jails bursting with Albanians

Relief for bursting jails
Six new prisons expected to ease congested system as overhaul begins
The government's efforts to overhaul the penal system will provide
some much-needed relief for the country's overflowing prisons as the
Justice Ministry puts into effect its plans to build six new jails by
2007.

Sources said that the country's 9,500 prisoners are currently being
housed in facilities designed for just 5,500 people.

The new jails will be home to 2,400 inmates while the country's
largest, Korydallos in Athens, is expected to cut down on its large
prison population.

Earlier this month, the recently appointed head of the Supreme Court
called on judges not to be too zealous in their sentencing because of
overburdened jails.

Data show that out of Greece's total number of inmates, 40 percent
are foreigners and of those some 50 percent are Albanian nationals.

The government has also taken other measures to help ease the
congestion in correction facilities.

Debts of up to 2,000 euros owed to social security funds are no longer
considered a criminal offense, while other violations have also been
downgraded in a bid to keep such offenders out of jail.

Some 450 inmates have been freed recently due to the more lenient laws.

Other, broader reforms the ministry intends to implement concern the
functioning of departments in its domain.

For example, officials estimate that the number of unfilled positions
among courtroom judges is about 22 percent of capacity, while 20
percent more staff is needed at jails.

Personnel shortages have also created a number of headaches for
property owners.

An example is the land registrar on Salamina, an island adjacent to
Athens. The files belonging to the registrar have not been updated
since July 2001, meaning that properties bought and sold have not been
processed through the system.

This has resulted in dual property ownership, the source said, and
cases have even been reported where homeowners have had their
apartments go under the hammer without their knowledge.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_26/09/2005_61167

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