Denmark May Start Sending Foreign Inmates to Serve Time in Third Countries

Denmark may introduce a new justice system that would allow for foreign convicts to serve prison sentences in third party countries, such as Poland, Romania and Lithuania, local media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the Politiko newspaper, Danish Justice Minister Soren Pind is set to propose the plan be put to a parliamentary vote.

"I think it would benefit the Danish prison system if it used more of its energy on people who are worth making the effort for," Justice Minister Soren Pind was quoted as saying by the paper.

According to the minister, such a move would send a signal to foreign criminals that "the days of a free stay in Danish prisons after making money illegally are over."

Almost 30 percent of prisoners in Denmark are foreigners, however, less than a third of those sentenced to deportation actually leave the country each year. Currently, there are around 200 foreign prisoners waiting for their country of origin to reach a deportation deal with Denmark, according to the justice ministry.

According to the paper, Pind’s proposal is likely to be accepted by the parliament. If the new system is approved, consultations on implementing the plan with the Danish Prisoner Service, foreign authorities and private contractors will begin in the autumn.