Finland is considering sending convicted offenders to prisons in other countries as part of efforts to address growing overcrowding in its correctional facilities, authorities have said.
The proposal, described as “prison outsourcing,” is contained in a report commissioned by Finland’s Ministry of Justice and presented to the media on Thursday.
The measure would involve renting prison space from foreign countries to accommodate inmates sentenced in Finland.
Finnish Justice Minister Leena Meri said the option was being examined as one way to ease pressure on the country’s prison system, although constitutional and legal issues would need to be resolved before it could be implemented.
According to the minister, Finland’s prison population has increased steadily in recent years, with prison capacity exceeded in 2024 and inmate numbers continuing to rise.
Data from the Prison and Probation Service Finland indicate that about 3,900 people are currently incarcerated, with the figure projected to reach 4,000 by 2028.
Meri noted that the number of prisoners with foreign backgrounds has risen sharply over the past decade, reaching around 950 inmates.
She said this group accounts for a significant share of the increase in the country’s prison population.
The ministry’s report identified drug-related crimes, sexual offences and homicide as the most common offences leading to prison sentences among foreign-background offenders.
Officials said tougher criminal laws introduced by successive governments have contributed to the growth in inmate numbers.
In addition to exploring overseas prison arrangements, the Finnish government plans to expand domestic prison capacity by about 500 places.
New facilities or modular units are expected to be added in Helsinki, Hämeenlinna and Kylmäkoski, while an additional wing is planned for Turku Prison by 2028.
The ministry has not identified any specific country that could host Finnish prisoners, and no formal negotiations have begun. However, officials pointed to a recent agreement between Sweden and Estonia under which Sweden rents prison space in Estonia to reduce overcrowding at home.
Under the Sweden-Estonia arrangement, at least 300 prison places are reserved for Swedish inmates at Estonia’s Tartu Prison. Prisoners are returned to Sweden after serving their sentences.
Meri suggested that a similar agreement between Finland and Estonia may be unlikely, saying Estonia currently appears unwilling to enter into additional prison-rental arrangements.
The proposal remains under review as Finnish authorities assess its legal, financial and constitutional implications.
