Estonian Parliament approves prison lease agreement between Estonia and Sweden

The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) ratified the prison lease agreement between Estonia and Sweden, allowing up to 600 Swedish inmates to be accommodated in Tartu Prison. The agreement will help keep Tartu Prison operational, preserve the capability of the Estonian Prison and Probation Service, and create hundreds of jobs in Southern Estonia.

According to Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta, the Parliament’s decision helps secure the future of Tartu Prison and preserve an important public security capability in Estonia. “The value of Tartu Prison lies not only in its buildings and prison places. Equally important are its trained staff, knowledge, experience and professional expertise, which the state may need to rely on in the future. This decision by Parliament makes it possible to preserve this important capability, create new jobs in Southern Estonia, and ensure that Tartu Prison remains a functioning part of Estonia’s security infrastructure. The preparations completed so far give confidence that Tartu Prison and the Estonian Prison and Probation Service are ready to take on this responsibility and implement the cooperation safely and professionally,” said Pakosta. The Swedish Parliament approved the agreement on 3 June. Following ratification by Parliament, the agreement will be submitted to the President of the Republic for promulgation. Estonia and Sweden will then exchange diplomatic notes, after which the agreement will enter into force. Preparations begin at Tartu Prison Once the agreement enters into force, practical preparations for receiving Swedish inmates will begin at Tartu Prison. To make this possible, inmates currently held in Tartu Prison will gradually be transferred to Viru and Tallinn Prisons. The transfers will take place in phases over the coming months. The open prison, detention centre and sobering-up service will remain at Tartu Prison. Their users will not come into contact with Swedish inmates. The prison’s living and working areas will also be adapted. Preparations include renovation and improvement works as well as the renewal of furnishings. Recruitment and training begin The prison lease agreement will create new employment opportunities at Tartu Prison and increase the number of jobs in the internal security sector in Southern Estonia. To implement the agreement, the Prison and Probation Service will recruit more than 250 new employees over the course of a year. The service welcomes both previously trained prison officers and newcomers, including young people and career changers who are entering the labour market or looking for a new professional path. New employees will complete workplace-based correctional officer training while retaining their salary during the training period. In addition, employees will receive further training to work with foreign inmates and to understand the specific characteristics of the target group. To facilitate communication with foreign inmates, employees will receive English language training. Translation tools and interpretation services will also be used where necessary in daily work. First inmates to arrive in August The admission of Swedish inmates and the filling of the prison will take place gradually. The first couple of dozen Swedish inmates will arrive at Tartu Prison in August. By the end of the year, up to 200 Swedish inmates may be accommodated at Tartu Prison. Their number will gradually increase over the following year until the agreed capacity of 600 inmates is reached. The inmates arriving from Sweden will be transported to Estonia by air. Upon arrival, they will be escorted directly to Tartu Prison by an armed escort unit. All inmates placed in Tartu Prison will be selected in cooperation between Estonian and Swedish authorities. Final approval for each inmate’s transfer to Estonia will be granted by Estonia. Persons convicted of terrorism-related offences, as well as individuals assessed as posing a risk of continuing criminal activity in prison, will not be transferred to Estonia. Minors and women will also not be accepted. The inmates transferred to Estonia will be adult men serving longer prison sentences, generally for violent or drug-related offences. No inmate will be released into Estonia. All inmates placed in Tartu Prison will be returned to Sweden before the end of their sentence. Under the agreement, either party has the right to terminate the agreement with one year’s notice. All costs related to the Swedish inmates will be covered by the Swedish state. Sweden will pay Estonia at least €30.6 million annually for maintaining readiness for 300 prison places. From the 301st inmate onwards, an additional €8,500 per inmate per month will be paid. At full capacity, i.e. 600 inmates, the annual payment will amount to €61.2 million. The amount will be indexed annually by 3.5%. More info:  [email protected]