The arguments the Justice Ministry presented in favor of the pardon law are flawed, and convictions of politicians and businessmen do not equal urgency, said representatives of the Omnia workers’ union from the National Administration of Penitentiaries, reports Hotnews.ro.

The union’s statements came as an answer to the recent draft proposal on granting pardon to large categories of detainees, included sentenced politicians, with the argument that Romania’s prisons are overcrowded and the detention conditions are very bad.

“Prison conditions have been criticized constantly for the past 27 years, but until the incarceration of politicians and business leaders, they have been ignored by all political parties and by all governments, without exception,” union representatives said.

They also mentioned that the “overcrowding, as a phenomenon, is decreasing, and the figures show that this effect is consistent.” In the last ten years, the number of prisoners has decreased from about 48,000 inmates to some 27,000 inmates.

According to the prison workers’ union, the detention conditions have improved constantly, although not at the expected pace. “40.7% of the Romanians have their toilet in the yard. Meanwhile, 100% of the inmates have permanent access to toilets and running water, even if 19 of the 44 Romanian penitentiaries are overcrowded. The comparisons list could continue, but it would be unfair to those who pay for the criminals’ prison holiday,” the union’s representatives wrote in a press release.

The union also answered to the politicians who demanded data on how many people have died in local prisons. “The mortality rate in prisons is 3.5 for each 1,000 inmates. The mortality rate in Romania is 11 for each 1,000 inhabitants.”

Jailed billionaire’s death stirs new debate about justice and prison conditions in Romania

editor@romania-insider.com