The Belgian prison administration has declared a humanitarian crisis due to severe overcrowding, with reports indicating that 267 inmates are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor.

This overcrowding issue has resulted in inmates sharing cells with two to four individuals, leading to a loss of privacy and increased tensions that can escalate into violence.

Compounding the problem, one in three inmates is awaiting trial, raising concerns about the efficiency of the judicial process and the implications of such overcrowding.

Recent violent incidents, including attacks on prison guards, have prompted prison personnel to plan a 24-hour strike to protest the escalating violence and unsafe working conditions.

High absenteeism rates among prison staff are attributed to these unsafe conditions, as many feel their safety cannot be guaranteed in overcrowded environments.

In response to the crisis, proposed reforms include allowing electronic monitoring for inmates serving sentences of up to three years, reversing a previous policy that mandated prison time for all short-term offenders.

Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden is actively addressing the overcrowding issue, proposing urgent measures to manage the crisis, including changes to sentencing practices for short-term offenders.

Additionally, a new prison facility is planned to replace the Mons prison, which is noted as one of the worst in Belgium, but it will take six years to complete after project approval.

Kathleen Van De Vijver, a spokesperson for the prison administration, described the current situation as a 'sad historical cap,' emphasizing the worsening conditions, including staff shortages and security issues.

The inhumane living conditions make rehabilitation efforts nearly impossible, shifting the focus from preparing inmates for reintegration into society to mere survival.

Mathilde Steenbergen, interim head of Belgium's prison administration, has sent an alarming letter to Prime Minister Bart De Wever, highlighting the dangerous conditions for both staff and inmates.

To alleviate the overcrowding, urgent measures, including a collective pardon, have been proposed by the College of Public Prosecutors.