The rise is linked to a prison‑focused criminal policy in place since 2010, including the “three strikes” rule and reduced use of alternative sanctions, independent news outlet 24.hu writes.
Overcrowding peaked in 2013 with a nationwide occupancy rate of 144%, prompting mandatory legal reforms and compensation measures for poor detention conditions.
To expand capacity, the state relied on accelerated construction using container units, while a 2023 government decree released 2,297 human smugglers into reintegration custody, easing overcrowding statistically but creating diplomatic and security tensions.
The prison system’s annual budget rose from HUF 42 billion in 2010 to nearly HUF 140 bln in 2024, and the yearly cost per inmate increased from HUF 2.6 million to HUF 7.6 mln.
Analysts note that the high incarceration rate does not automatically reflect worse public safety, as factors such as case processing speed and the share of detainees awaiting trial also influence the numbers.
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